Hunger striker clings to life
An Iranian asylum seeker was last night still clinging to life, more than five weeks after embarking on a hunger strike in protest of his treatment.
Saeed Hassanloo, 25, is in a critical condition at Royal Perth Hospital after starving himself for the past 44 days.
He is understood to have begun to refuse fluids over a week ago, when his brother Majid was transferred from Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre to Christmas Island.
The brothers, who fled Iran in 2009, spoke on Thursday last week but it is not thought they will be reunited as Mr Hassanloo’s condition worsens.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said yesterday the situation was very sad and he hoped “the man will reconsider his position”.
“However no government can make decisions under duress. We have provided every possible assistance in this case,” he said.
Mr Dutton said he had sought advice on obtaining court intervention to allow for further medical treatment but was advised the courts would not intervene and ultimately there was no way to override the man’s wishes to refuse medical assistance.
Refugee Rights Action Network spokeswoman Victoria Martin-Iverson said yesterday Mr Hassanloo’s decision to starve himself to the brink of death was proof he was a genuine refugee who feared for his future if he returned to Iran.
“No one would want to live the life of an immigration detainee…and you wouldn’t starve yourself to death on a hunger strike if you thought you’d go home and get into a bit of trouble,” she said.
Mr Hassanloo converted to Christianity while in Villawood Detention Centre in New South Wales and Ms Martin-Iverson said the 25-year-old would face persecution if he returned to his homeland.
She said she feared other asylum seekers would view the plight of Mr Hassanloo as a message that there is no hope for them and hope was often the only thing that kept them from harming themselves while in detention.
