B’nai B’rith protests asylum seeker policy

B’NAI B’rith Australia and New Zealand has labelled images from Manus Island “most disturbing” and placed on record its opposition to the Australian government’s asylum seeker policies.

In a letter to Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, the organisation expressed “grave and growing concern” about the indefinite and prolonged detention of asylum seekers who arrive in Australian waters.

B’nai B’rith Australia and New Zealand president Morris Tobias told The AJN: “Being the world’s oldest recognised social justice organisation at 170 years old … B’nai B’rith is compelled to take the government to task over their harsh treatment of persons who are likely to be genuinely entitled to seek asylum in Australia.”

The letter stated that B’nai B’rith was “particularly disturbed” about the removal of asylum seekers and their children to offshore locations.

“They have a right to our protection yet we have outsourced these responsibilities to other sovereign governments with very limited capacity and resources to undertake them on our behalf,” it said.

“The more recent removal to Nauru of 10 unaccompanied minors who arrived by boat is evidence of the determination of the government to implement policies without regard for evidence of the long term negative impacts that indefinite detention in offshore locations has on children.”

The letter expressed “outrage” at the lack of independent monitoring of the conditions under which asylum seekers are being detained, or the impact of detention on their wellbeing.

The letter also cited B’nai B’rith’s commitment to human rights.

“We have been and continue to be proud of Australia’s compassionate support for refugee settlement and of Australia’s past record in living up to its responsibilities and commitments by protecting persons fleeing from persecution.

“We believe that current policies are extreme and harsh … B’nai B’rith Australia/New Zealand would like to place on record its opposition to current policies and stand up on behalf of asylum seekers whose voices cannot be heard in the current highly charged policy environment.”

GARETH NARUNSKY

An asylum seeker boat (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)