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For love not a visa: Elderly refugee advocate marries asylum seeker

An elderly refugee advocate, Dianne Baumann, has denied marrying a 31-year-old Manus Island asylum seeker to bypass Australian immigration restrictions, according to News Corp.

It’s understood Baumann wed Mohsen Norozi late last year.

"I want to look after her in the future. I care about her. Is that a problem?" Norozi told News Corp while defending his marriage.

The pair reportedly wed late last year. Source: Facebook
The pair reportedly wed late last year. Source: Facebook

Baumann has also defended the union and has strongly denied the pair had married for a visa.

“Mohsen and I have known each other a long time and we’ll be sharing a house together for a long time in the future,” Ms Baumann, who usually resides in Australia told News Corp.

“I don’t think that anyone would get married for a visa because that’s ridiculous,” she continued.

Elderly Australian refugee advocate Dianne Baumann. Source: Facebook
Elderly Australian refugee advocate Dianne Baumann. Source: Facebook
Men on Manus Island have the options of settling in PNG if found to be refugees. Source: AAP
Men on Manus Island have the options of settling in PNG if found to be refugees. Source: AAP

Late last year Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced new laws would ensure no one transferred to Manus or Nauru would ever get any visa to enter Australia.

If the laws pass, the only option for Norozi and Ms Baumann would be to live in the US under Australia’s refugee swap deal, according to News Corp.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. Source: AAP
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. Source: AAP

“We’re hoping the American deal comes through very soon for everybody,” Ms Baumann told News Corp.

“We plan to live in America by the looks of it.”

It’s understood she is currently residing on Manus Island with her new husband.

According to News Corp, Norozi refuses to reveal his reasons for seeking asylum in Australia, including where he is fleeing from.

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