Read the ABC Article about Ahmed's case here

In 2013, Ahmed Shalikhan was a 16 year old refugee when he arrived in Australia with his already frail mother. As Iraqi Kurds, they are considered stateless and in most countries, they would be eligible for permanent protection visas. However, Ahmed & his mother, Najat Janabi, were placed in refugee detention in Western Australia. This was when I first came into contact with them, as their refugee caseworker during my time at Amnesty International Australia. 

Ahmed was diagnosed with a number of cognitive issues but never received the treatment he needed, instead, he kept getting into 'trouble' with the severely ill-equipped detention staff. At times, they would send Ahmed to adult prison for a night or two, as punishment, and we'd have to advocate for him to be transferred back.

Ahmed already had an older brother living in the community, who was ready to look after him and their frail mother. Our repeated requests to the Immigration Department for Ahmed and Najat to be released into the community while they await their protection visa application outcomes got ignored.

I was their caseworker for 6 months and one of my worst fears was Ahmed becoming an adult whilst in detention, as I knew that SERCO (or whichever private company is running the immigration detention centres) will ensure that Ahmed will be punished. They never believed he was a minor.

I never forgot Ahmed & Najat's case. I wondered about them long after I left Amnesty International. Finding out that he's still in detention, 9 years later, broke my heart. Our advocacy failed him.

Now that the Labor government is in power, let's ask them to show some compassion to Ahmed and let him live in the community with his mother and elder brother. He needs to get much-needed treatment for his mental health, which has deteriorated thanks to prolonged detention.