In a heartfelt plea, acclaimed Kurdish artist and former detainee Mostafa Azimitabar has condemned the Australian Labor government’s controversial new deportation laws, warning they will inflict further cruelty and insecurity on refugees and asylum seekers.
Azimitabar, a two-time Archibald Prize finalist who spent over eight years in Australia’s notorious offshore detention centers, expressed deep concern over the proposed legislation, which would grant the government sweeping powers to deport non-citizens.
“I’m really worried. So many refugees and asylum seekers are also worried about what these new laws will mean for us. Who will be deported and when? We already have no real security and this latest political gamesmanship makes us worry even more.”
– Mostafa Azimitabar
A Harrowing Journey
Azimitabar fled his homeland of Kurdistan in 2013, seeking refuge from the repressive Iranian regime that has long persecuted its Kurdish minority. After a perilous boat journey, he arrived on Australia’s shores, hoping to find safety and freedom.
Instead, he was exiled to the notorious Manus Island detention center in Papua New Guinea, where he endured over six years of what he describes as “mental and physical torture” at the hands of the Australian government.
Despite winning a medical transfer to Australia in 2019, Azimitabar found himself once again incarcerated, this time in a Melbourne hotel room he likened to a “coffin.” For 15 months, he was subjected to invasive searches, constant surveillance, and threats of retribution if he spoke out about the conditions.
Art as Solace and Resistance
Throughout his ordeal, Azimitabar found solace and strength in his art. Denied conventional supplies on Manus Island, he innovated, painting haunting portraits with coffee and a toothbrush. His talent and determination caught the eye of the Australian art world, leading to his selection as an Archibald Prize finalist in 2022 and 2024.
Now working at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and embraced by a community of artists and advocates, Azimitabar has begun to rebuild his life. But the specter of Australia’s draconian immigration policies continues to haunt him and thousands of others.
A Plea for Compassion
Azimitabar’s story is a testament to both the resilience of the human spirit and the cruelty of Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers. His impassioned appeal to the Labor government and the Australian people is a clarion call for compassion and justice.
“I was happy when Labor won the election. After so many years of Coalition government I thought it would protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. I think a lot of Labor voters wanted it to be better too… These new laws are cruel. No one deserves this.”
– Mostafa Azimitabar
As Australia grapples with its obligations under international law and its moral duty to those seeking sanctuary on its shores, voices like Azimitabar’s serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of punitive policies. His call to action is one that demands the attention and empathy of all Australians.
“I would like to ask every Australian who cares about humanity: please help stop this bill.”
– Mostafa Azimitabar
In a nation that prides itself on its commitment to fairness and the “fair go,” the plight of Azimitabar and countless others serves as a stark reminder of how far we still have to go in living up to those ideals. As the debate over these new deportation measures unfolds, his story compels us to confront the human reality behind the political rhetoric and to ask ourselves what kind of society we wish to be.
