A demonstration outside the Australian Embassy in London yesterday joined a series of worldwide protests in expressing mounting outrage at Australia’s asylum policy. “Light the dark” candlelight vigils have protested against mounting worries over Australian governmental asylum policy. A recent riot at Australia’s notorious detention centres, ended in the death of Reza Barati a 23 year old Iranian asylum seeker, and sparked an outcry which pushed 15,000 Australians to the streets.
The demonstration in London was joined by members of the London Green Party, including Caroline Allen, Green Candidate for the European Parliament and Islington council candidate, who said: “The Australian Asylum process is truly draconian. The widespread use of detention, including of children, and the terrible conditions at these centers is inhumane. They must be opposed.”
“Equally these issues are not alien to our shores. We’ve seen the deaths of refugees when being deported back to their home country. Tragedies like Lampedusa, where migrants have died trying to find safe passage to the EU. We’re still seeing children refugees being imprisoned, despite commitments to end this barbarity. We need a humane asylum system worldwide. The Greens are solidly committed to a common sense refugee policy that treats refugees as humans, and our Green MEP Jean Lambert has worked hard to strive towards that goal“.
