MELANIE WHITING
The future of detained Iranian asylum seeker Mojgan Shamsalipoor, 21, rests in the hands of Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, a friend close to the family told The Source News.
Helping Hands International Australia National Director Ken Myers, who is also a family friend, has supported Ms Shamsalipoor’s husband Milad Jafari since she was forcibly sent to a Darwin detention centre on August 7.
Helping Hands International Australia is a refugee relief centre set up to help people from all ethnicities settle into the Brisbane community.
Mr Myers said no new information had been given to explain why Ms Shamsalipoor was forcibly removed from Brisbane Immigration Transit accommodation.
After speaking with Ms Shamsalipoor’s lawyer over the phone on Monday, Mr Myers was told the final decision is up to Minister Dutton.
“The Minister has the decision whether to leave Mojgan in detention for the rest of her life, and he can move her from centre to centre, or grant her a partnership visa,” he said.
“Obviously our request in speaking to Milad is that the Minister grant her a partnership visa. There is every likelihood if she was to land in Iran that she would be killed, that is her expectation if she goes back to Iran.”
Mr Myers said no new information had been given to explain why Ms Shamsalipoor was forcibly removed from Brisbane Immigration Transit accommodation.
Yeronga State High School P&C Vice President Neil Davidson said her removal from the school has students worried.
“We’ve only been told it’s for operational purposes and that’s come through second hand information.”
Minister Dutton’s office declined to comment on the story and have not spoken to the media.
Ms Shamsalipoor was a student at Brisbane’s Yeronga State High school and just three months shy of completing her High School Certificate.
The Yeronga State High School community have rallied their support behind Ms Shamsalipoor and called for her release.
Yeronga State High School P&C Vice President Neil Davidson said her removal from the school has students worried.
“We’re obviously a very multicultural school with a very strong ethic around inclusion and the celebration of individual cultures,” he said.
“Given a lot of people [at the school] have come from countries overseas and not always along official pathways… there’s many people that fear they will be affected.”
The Queensland Teacher’s Union has organised public rallies for Ms Shamsalipoor with one held last Friday. QTU representative Jessica Walker said they are planning further action.
“This week we are going to be releasing more information on the ‘Free Mojgan’ Facebook page about how people can further express support through letter writing campaigns and things like that.”
Ms Walker has encouraged people to express their concern by calling or emailing Minister Dutton’s office.