Iranian asylum seeker dies by suicide on Nauru

Australian-run detention centre on Nauru.

Fariborz K, 26, found dead on Friday morning in Australian-run regional processing centre

Ben Doherty and Saba Vasefi

The man who died would be the third asylum seeker or refugee to die by suicide on Nauru. Photograph: Supplied
A 26-year-old Iranian asylum seeker has died on Nauru, reportedly by suicide in his tent in the Australian-run regional processing centre.

The body of 26-year-old Fariborz K was found in his tent by a family member at about 9am local time on Friday morning. He had recently married. His mother and 12-year-old brother are also being held on Nauru.

Fariborz’s wife and mother were both hospitalised on Friday afternoon. His 12-year-old brother Ali has been taken into care by camp authorities.

Sources inside RCP3 – the family camp – said refugees and asylum seekers attempted to help Fariborz when they found him in his tent but they were unable to revive him.

In April, Fariborz’s younger brother Ali made a public plea for help for his mother, Fazileh, who was suffering acute physical and mental illnesses, and said his brother was suffering a mental crisis.

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“I feel helpless because there is no one to help us. There is no one to see how we are suffering. My mother is very sick and my brother is totally depressed,” the boy said in a video.

An IHMS health summary report for Fariborz, completed on April 24 this year, identified him as “being severely traumatised” as a result of being held captive as a 10-year-old child in Iran.

“He reported long-term engement with psychiatrists in Iran and was on medication at that time. Mr K states though his post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms continue, that he did not wish to engage with specialist health services.”

In a November assessment he declined to complete a mental health assessment.

“He spoke of being angry at times in the context of his long-term detention,” the report said.

Fariborz had also begged for help for his mother. In a handwritten note, written in English, he wrote: “I take the IHMS responsible for my mother’s drastic health situation. My mother’s health is now its worst”.

A friend of Fariborz said he had been frustrated by his family’s stalemate after five years detained on Nauru.

“I saw him only yesterday. He was a young athletic guy, but he had been suffering a long time because of his family’s situation. He was sick and tired.”

Fariborz is the third asylum seeker or refugee to die by suicide on Nauru, and comes only three weeks after a Rohingya refugee on Manus Island killed himself.

Twelve people have died from injuries or illness sustained in offshore processing centres since the facilities were reopened in late 2012: asylum seekers and refugees have been murdered by guards or have died from sepsis, medical neglect, accident and suicide.

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A spokesman for the department of immigration said: “the department is aware of the death in Nauru today, 15 June 2018. Further enquiries should be referred to Nauruan authorities”.

Staff at the regional processing centre told the Guardian: “it is Australia’s responsibility, it happened in their camp”.

Iranian journalist and refugee Behrouz Boochani, detained on Manus Island, said: “Department of Home Affairs has referred the case to Nauruan authorities as always. It’s Australia that is responsible for his death, not Nauru! You are the one who exiled people there and denied them medical treatment and support. Dutton must give an answer to people.”

The Nauruan government issued a statement on the man’s death. “We can confirm that a man has died in the Nauru regional processing centre today. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with his family. Police are investigating.”

Spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, said the Australian government was responsible for the man’s death.

“There have so many warnings but the toll mounts day by day; the neglect continues. So many cases of medical neglect.”

“Peter Dutton must bring all the asylum seekers and refugees to Australia. The US deal is a farce that is now excluding Iranians and Somalis. Dutton has nowhere to settle the people who have been dumped on Nauru and are now dying of despair.

Rintoul said news of the man’s death had devastated the asylum seeker and refugee community on Nauru.

“He was a well-known, well-liked, athletic young man who did everything he could for his brother and mother.”

The Guardian has not revealed the family’s surname out of concern for the safety of extended family members.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

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