A leading surgeon who would have been barred from Australia for life under a proposed refugee policy if he had arrived later has pleaded with the government not to be blinded by a wave of rightwing radicalism.

Dr Munjed al Muderis is an osseointegration surgeon who fled Iraq to Australia in 1999 after he was ordered by Saddam Hussein’s regime to amputate the ears of deserters. He arrived by boat and was detained on Christmas Island and in the Curtin detention centre.

His story found renewed attention this week after one of his patients, Allison France, published a letter to the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

“Under your new policy, he would never have made it to Australia,” France said. “He has made a huge contribution to our country. I urge you to reconsider your position on this issue and consider the welfare and happiness of Australians like me.”

The policy, announced by Turnbull and the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, on Sunday, would mean any adult who had their refugee claim processed on Nauru or Manus Island would be banned from ever returning to Australia under any kind of visa, including as a tourist.

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On Wednesday Dutton said the policy was vital to strengthen the prospect of striking a deal with third countries to take Australia’s offshore refugees and suggested some may attempt to enter Australia later with “sham relationships”.

Muderis, who is the only surgeon of his kind in the country, told Guardian Australia he was disheartened to learn of the new policy proposal.

“What’s really sad is to see both parties competing with each other over who’s going to be harsher on these human beings,” he said. “These poor people who are escaping from terrorism and fear, we are treating them with fear, we are treating them with terror.”

Muderis said he was unaware of France’s letter until a friend showed it to him but he supported it because “she shared the same opinion of the vast majority of people I come across in my day to day work and day-to-day life”.

He said he was not against rightwing figures such as Pauline Hanson, who supported the policy, because he believed they had “genuine anxieties” that needed to be addressed.

However, Hanson’s election win had given “a false impression to the government and both parties that this is the popular thing to do”, he said.

“It seems everybody is riding the wave of radicalism and extremism and being very rightwing.”

Muderis questioned why the policy was necessary if the government had “stopped the boats”.



“I don’t understand why they are doing that. If it’s successful, why do we go to the extreme? Why do we try to prove we are harsh?”

It wouldn’t have deterred his own journey, he said, because he was in fear for his life and had no choice. He said he would do it again if in the same situation because he had no other option.

“I didn’t get a chance to come by plane. I didn’t see a camp, I didn’t see a queue. Not everybody is lucky enough to find a UNHCR camp,” he said. “It’s more than likely that someone born in one of these UNHCR camps will die an old man or old woman in these camps.”

He said he had not spoken with Turnbull or his predecessors about his experience but would welcome the opportunity.

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France told Guardian Australia she shared the letter in the hope Turnbull and “other Australians who were in doubt about the contributions refugees make to this country” would read it.



“I think the idea that people who come by boat are banned for life is cruel and unnecessary and made me straight away think of Munjed,” she said.

“Under the current system he would be stuck on Manus or Nauru and never have the opportunity to come here. If he was moved to Canada he would never have the chance to travel here as a surgeon. He’s in demand all over the world.”

France said she had received few negative responses to her letter.

“I hope other people will their stories of their positive experiences. There’s so many good stories about refugees out there. It would be nice to be hearing more of them.”