asylum

[Guest guest]

>Religious tensions in asylum camps>By Phil Mercer>BBC correspondent in

Sydney>Saturday, 18 May, 2002, 06:43 GMT 07:43 UK>>Minority religious groups in

Australia's immigration detention centres>are being persecuted and physically

assaulted by Muslim asylum seekers,>according to Amnesty International, the

human rights group.>>Amnesty believes many are suffering psychological trauma

as a result of>the constant discrimination they face.>>Locked away for months

and even years while their applications for>asylum are processed, many

detainees rely on their faith to help them>through this period of

uncertainty.>>The majority are Muslims, who have access to halal food and

attend>Mosques established inside Australia's detention centres.>>Policy

defended>>The concern Amnesty International has is for religious groups, such

as>Christians and Mandeans, who follow the teachings of John the

Baptist.>>Mandeans, Tamils and other Hindus and Christians are facing violence

or>threats of violence from certain Islamists with the detention

centres>here.>>They claim to have fled persecution in Iran, where their faith

is not>recognised. There are more than 100 Mandeans in detention in

Australia.>>The authorities automatically lock away all asylum seekers -

including>children - who arrive without the proper documentation and claim

refugee>status.>>The conservative government in Australia has defended the

policy of>mandatory detention on health and security grounds.>>There are

currently around 2,500 detainees in camps on the Australian>mainland Human

rights groups claim some are denied basic religious>rights.>>'Breakdown of

order'>>They allege their dietary needs are not met, they are not allowed

to>celebrate holy festivals and have no access to religious clergy.>>Amnesty

International's refugee co-ordinator Doctor Graham Thom says>intolerance and

vilification are now serious problems inside Australia's>immigration

camps.>>"The reports we're hearing say that Mandeans, Tamils and other

Hindus>and Christians - in particular Christian converts - are facing

violence>or threats of violence from certain Islamists with the

detention>centres.>>"They are being called infidels. They are being refused

access to>kitchens and things like that because people think they are unclean

as>infidels.>>"This has escalated at times when there is a serious breakdown of

order>within the detention centre when there are riots and things like that>and

these groups, who often refuse to participate in riots, are>physically

assaulted," Mr Thom said.>>Earlier this month a newspaper report in Western

Australia alleged a>Islamic leader had called for a jihad - or holy war - on

the small>Mandean community at the Port Hedland detention centre.>>The

authorities say a number of clashes between rival groups of>detainees have

taken place and are being investigated.>>Officials say it's not clear if

religious differences were to blame.>>>

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