Djokovic highlights the situation of Australian asylum seekers Refugee News

As rain pours into the crowd outside Novak Djokovic’s Melbourne detention center, cries of “free Novak” and “free refugees” and fans are sided with activists and anti-vaccine protesters.

The vaccine skeptic was from a tennis player placed in the center this week, her visa removed Failure to comply with severe restrictions on access to the Australian pandemic.

Among the 50 people gathered on the day of the second protest on Friday, some showed posters. nine-time Australian Open champion others had anti-vaccine posters.

A group called Grandmothers for Refugees has expressed support for those arrested by the government.

Dressed in flags and playing nationalist songs, some Serbs in the crowd celebrated Orthodox Christmas Day in protest.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

On Monday, a court will hear an appeal against the revocation of his visa.

Park Hotel

Just four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the luxury city hotel where most Australian Open players are staying, the Park Hotel, a gray five-story building with the windows of an inner-city suburb, is officially recognized. “An alternative place of detention.”

On the second floor are about 30 men from several countries who were evacuated for medical treatment in 2020, trapped in the impoverished South Pacific islands of Papua New Guinea and Nauru, trapped in Australia’s harsh immigration system.

Detainees may not leave and no one may enter or leave except staff.

Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.

A detainee pasted a sign in one of the windows saying “I’m looking for my freedom.”

Posters are hanging on the windows of the Park Hotel [Sandra Sanders/Reuters]

The facility became famous when a fire in the building last year forced it to evacuate refugees and asylum seekers, and they allegedly found pastures in the food.

“We are stuck in our room. There is no fresh air. We have no place to train. There is no gym here. It’s very hard, “said Hossein Latifi, a 32-year-old Iranian man who was arrested in Nauru in 2013.

For decades, Australia has had a mandatory detention policy for anyone arriving without a visa, and to prevent people from coming by boat, it has set up sea detention centers on Nauru and PNG’s Manus Island.

Manus was closed in 2016 after being declared illegal, while the Nauru Center remains open.

In response to criticism, the government began in 2019 to allow the temporary transfer of seriously ill refugees to Australia for medical treatment.

Latifi was brought to Australia in 2020 and was initially in another facility before being moved to the Park Hotel four months ago. He said he did not know how long he would be there or where he could go.

“We are refugees, we are innocent; we have not committed any crime. I am being held hostage here, ”he told Latifi Reuters on the phone in his room, where he videotaped a group of about 100 people across the street to demand the release of Djokovic and the refugees.

Pro-refugee protesters have staged a demonstration at the Park Hotel [Loren Elliott/Reuters]

Some groups of asylum seekers have been detained in the hotel for almost two years and have complained about a number of conditions, including poor hospitality.

“It’s so low quality and they’ve even served us bread and lentils in our bread,” said Adnan Choopani, who was first arrested nine years ago when he was 15 years old.

The hotel is also being used to quarantine passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Choopani and Latifi both wished Djokovic well, even though Latifi stated that he wanted to face having a tennis superstar “for a few days” rather than nine years.

Choopani said the famous new neighbor had pulled the power out of the spotlight on the hotel.

“I don’t want any arrests in Australia,” Choopani said. “Novak, you are not alone. We have many helpers, we love you, we want to see you succeed … we wish you all the best and we wish you freedom, just the way we want it. “

Djokovic’s arrest has sparked international scrutiny, and the Serbian government has demanded an explanation.

“Djokovic is not a criminal, a terrorist or an illegal migrant, but he was treated that way by the Australian authorities, which leads to understandable anger from his fans and the people of Serbia,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The country’s president, prime minister and foreign minister have made angry remarks about the treatment of the national hero with some nationalist overtones.

In passionate statements at a rally in Belgrade, his father, Srdjan Djokovic, said that a crowd of his son was a victim of “political witch-hunting” and “crown fascism”.

His mother, Djina Djokovic, told reporters: “They keep him as a prisoner. It’s not fair. He is not human. ‘

The hotel is also being used to quarantine passengers who have tested positive for COVID-19 [Sandra Sanders/Reuters]

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for Djokovic’s visa waiver.

“Rules are rules and there are no special cases,” he said.

Many Australians who have suffered travel bans and blockades for almost two years were outraged when the player was granted a vaccine exemption.

The tennis players seemed divided, but some gathered around Novak.

“Look, I certainly think that when I took action, I was included for others and for my mother’s health, but how bad we are in handling Novak’s situation is very, very bad,” said Australian star Nick Kyrgios.

“This is one of our great champions, but after all, he’s a human being,” he said on social media.

Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, said Djokovic was sorry, but added that he could play “without any problems” if the Serb wanted to.

“I think if he wanted to, he would play Australian without any problems here,” Nadal said.

“He made his own decisions, and everyone is free to make their own decisions, but then there are some consequences. Of course, I don’t like the situation that’s happening. Somehow, I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions for many months, so he made the decision. “