Thousands of Australians have held candlelight vigils across the country following the death of asylum seeker Reza Barati at Manus Island detention centre.
The vigil was organised by not-for-profit activist group GetUp! and was held across 750 sites around the country. Australians raised candles to #lightthedark in protest of Australian immigration policies, and called for greater transparency from the government over treatment of asylum seekers.
Thousands attend #LightTheDark vigil for slain asylum seeker Reza Berati in Sydney. http://t.co/pDMFydZOK6 pic.twitter.com/aGnI0JNx33
— smh.com.au (@smh) February 23, 2014
Berati, a 23-year-old from Iran, lost his life at the Manus island detention centre during a riot last week. 62 other asylum seekers were injured in the Australian-run Papua New Guinea detention facility.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has admitted that much of the information he had given to the Australian public about the riot was now in doubt. Tony Abbott defended his actions, telling journalists “You don’t want a wimp running border protection, you want someone who is strong, who is decent and Scott Morrison is both strong and decent.”
The 15,000 people who took part in the vigil probably think otherwise.
Photo: via GetUp!
Via The Guardian
