Sunday 7 September, 6 pm, King George Square, Brisbane
A vigil will be held for Iranian asylum seeker Hamid Khazayi in Brisbane's King George Square on Sunday evening at 6 pm.
Hamid was rushed from the Manus Island detention centre to Brisbane's Mater hospital last week suffering from severe septicaemia stemming from a cut foot. His life was not able to be saved and his life support system was removed on Friday night.
Hamid Khazayi is the second Iranian man to die as a result of Australia's harsh immigration detention regime.
"This is a needless and senseless loss of life," said Mark Gillespie from the Refugee Action Collective. "If proper care had been given immediately, Hamid would still be with us. It is so tragic to see such a young life taken this way and it is an indictment on the way our government is treating asylum seekers. The neglect of these people locked away in Australia's offshore detention facilities, out of sight, out of mind, is systemic".
"We're calling for the immediate closure of these facilities and for the asylum seekers to be brought to Australia to have their claims for asylum properly assessed, as it is their right under international law."
This is the second vigil to be held in Brisbane. Dozens of people came out to pay their respects outside the Mater Hospital last Thursday, when we first learned that Hamid was dying in our city. Since then, candlelight vigils have been held in all capital cities and in many regional towns, including Mackay, Bundaberg and Bathurst.
Please note spelling of Hamid’s last name reflects his family’s request.
See images of the event below or click on our Facebook album.