To mark 100 days since Reza Barati’s murder, his father, Torabi, has sent a letter to the Australian people calling for justice for his son, murdered on Manus Island on 17 February.

The letter was translated by an Iranian asylum seeker who had been held on Manus Island – text below.

“While the Cornall report has indicated some of those allegedly responsible for Reza’s death – in particular the Salvation Army worker and local G4S employees, the Cornall report has uncritically accepted G4S management account of events; an account contradicted by asylum seekers and now contradicted by emails and tape comments by senior G4S management,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“We are still waiting for the truly independent inquiry that will be needed to get to the truth of what happened on Manus Island on 16, 17 February. Then PNG mobile squad implicated in the lethal attack on defenceless asylum seekers on 17 February still patrol the external fences of the detention centre with the approval of Minister Scott Morrison. We join Reza’s father in calling for justice for his son.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

A letter from Torabi Barati, father of the late Reza Barati, to the Australian people:

Dear Australian people,

I have worked hard all my life to bring up my children honest and committed to human dignity, and thank God I achieved my goal. Reza, my son, always loved freedom and treated all people equally and like members of his family.

Reza was full of hope and love and he left Iran to achieve his goals. He chose Australia because he thought your country was the right place. Before he left he told me that in your country all his dreams would come true, and he would have freedom and democracy.

Contrary to what he thought, he was not welcomed in Australia, but forced to go to Manus Island. Whenever he phoned me from detention, he told me about the way they were treated: bad food and lack of medical supplies.

I asked him to come back home many times but he didn’t agree and said “The Australian people don’t know what they are doing to us. As soon as they know about this we will be sent to Australia”. Despite of all the shortages, Reza believed that they had to tolerate and be patient although they had been through such hardship.

Five months passed and I had to face the worst moment of my life: the loss of my son, with all his unfulfilled dreams. On the 17th of February he was murdered by brutal PNG police, Manus locals and Australian G4S.

He was innocent and did not commit any crime and his murderers are free. I have lost my son and I want you, the Australian people, to bring those who killed my son to justice.

Torabi Barati

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Category: Press releases