Ruth Halbert
artist, weaver
Paper boat Rud.jpg

Blog: Dear Prime Minister

On July 30 2016 I started writing letters to the Prime Minister of Australia to protest against the imprisonment and torture of the asylum seekers in the offshore detention centres of Manus Island and Nauru. I started with the intention of writing a letter a day for every person in detention until they are all freed. There are more than 1800 asylum seekers in off shore detention. These are those letters and any response from Mr Turnbull.

Letters to Tyranny #45

Dear Prime Minister,

#45

Have you looked at the Stories from Manus Island yet? Amir left Iran when he was only 14. He is now 23. Nine years seeking refuge. Like Imran, who I wrote to you about yesterday, Amir wants very little from Australia: "to live in a place where nobody would question who I am." And like Imran, who wants to be a doctor, Amir also has high expectations of himself. He wants to become a Human Rights lawyer. Instead he and the other detainees have no way out of their arbitrary imprisonment except death.

Did you go into politics to make cruel deals that violate vulnerable people? Or something better? Bring the refugees to Australia.

Yours faithfully

Ruth Halbert

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