An Iranian asylum seeker set himself on fire in Nauru

An Iranian refugee in the Nauru refugee camp set himself on fire in an act of protest.

An Iranian refugee identified as Omid, 23, married, has set himself on fire during a visit by a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. A video has been released of Omid screaming and complaining about the uncertainty and problems he has faced over the past three years.

At the end of the film, the refugees present try to help Hope by putting out the fire, and media reports indicate that she has been saved from death and is hospitalized.

Nauru is a small island near Australia, which has been designated by the government as a holding area for some of the applicants for immigration to Australia.

According to the Guardian, Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton expressed regret over the situation and stressed that Omid would not be transferred to Australia after his recovery and would be transferred back to Nauru. Mr Dutton said: “If they think that harming themselves and their families will lead them to come to Australia and settle here, I must stress that this will not be the case.”

Australia is a popular immigration destination, but the Australian government's opposition to granting residency to people who illegally cross the country's borders has caused uncertainty for about 9,000 immigrants, a significant portion of whom are Iranians.

The Australian government has been repeatedly criticized for its poor conditions for asylum seekers, but Australian officials say they have made it clear that there is no future for those who come to Australia illegally by sea.

This situation has led to several suicide attempts among refugees, including Sam Nemati, an Iranian refugee who committed suicide in April of this year and was sentenced in court to pay a $200 fine and perform 12 months of community service.

Nauru authorities hope that these sentences will prevent a recurrence of suicides among asylum seekers.

Source: Voice of America