This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/04/churches-offer-sanctuary-to-asylum-seekers-facing-deportation-to-nauru
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Churches offer sanctuary to asylum seekers facing deportation to Nauru | Churches offer sanctuary to asylum seekers facing deportation to Nauru |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Churches and cathedrals in Australia are offering sanctuary to asylum seekers who have suffered trauma and abuse to prevent their return to Nauru. | Churches and cathedrals in Australia are offering sanctuary to asylum seekers who have suffered trauma and abuse to prevent their return to Nauru. |
| On Wednesday the high court ruled Australia’s offshore detention regime on Nauru had been lawfully established. | On Wednesday the high court ruled Australia’s offshore detention regime on Nauru had been lawfully established. |
| The decision means that up to 267 asylum seekers on the mainland could be sent back to the island nation, where a large number of serious sexual assaults have been reported. A Senate inquiry also raised serious concerns about conditions on Nauru, where infant children are being held. | The decision means that up to 267 asylum seekers on the mainland could be sent back to the island nation, where a large number of serious sexual assaults have been reported. A Senate inquiry also raised serious concerns about conditions on Nauru, where infant children are being held. |
| Related: #LetThemStay: thousands rally Australia-wide against offshore detention of asylum seekers | |
| But 10 Anglican and Uniting churches around the country have offered sanctuary to the asylum seekers who are at risk of being returned. | But 10 Anglican and Uniting churches around the country have offered sanctuary to the asylum seekers who are at risk of being returned. |
| The right to sanctuary, while not now recognised under common law in Australia or other jurisdictions, is a biblical concept that had legal basis during the middle ages. | The right to sanctuary, while not now recognised under common law in Australia or other jurisdictions, is a biblical concept that had legal basis during the middle ages. |
| The Anglican Dean of Brisbane, the Very Reverend Dr Peter Catt, said he was prepared to be charged with an offence for obstruction by trying to prevent federal authorities from entering the cathedral grounds. | The Anglican Dean of Brisbane, the Very Reverend Dr Peter Catt, said he was prepared to be charged with an offence for obstruction by trying to prevent federal authorities from entering the cathedral grounds. |
| “We offer this refuge because there is irrefutable evidence from health and legal experts that the circumstances asylum seekers, especially children, would face if sent back to Nauru are tantamount to state-sanctioned abuse,” he told ABC Radio National on Thursday. | “We offer this refuge because there is irrefutable evidence from health and legal experts that the circumstances asylum seekers, especially children, would face if sent back to Nauru are tantamount to state-sanctioned abuse,” he told ABC Radio National on Thursday. |
| Related: #LetThemStay: share your stories if you are joining protests around Australia | |
| There is an offence under Australian law for “concealing and harbouring non-citizens”, which could potentially be used against the heads of churches seeking to prevent asylum seekers from being deported. | There is an offence under Australian law for “concealing and harbouring non-citizens”, which could potentially be used against the heads of churches seeking to prevent asylum seekers from being deported. |
| The federal government has continued to stress its support for offshore detention. The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said on Wednesday he had a “steadfast” resolve to prevent people smugglers. | The federal government has continued to stress its support for offshore detention. The prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said on Wednesday he had a “steadfast” resolve to prevent people smugglers. |
| Immigration minister Peter Dutton said the government would not be “dragging people out of churches” but insisted that the people’s cases would be individually considered on medical advice. | Immigration minister Peter Dutton said the government would not be “dragging people out of churches” but insisted that the people’s cases would be individually considered on medical advice. |
| Related: UN warns Australia to consider best interests of asylum seeker children | |
| Dutton said the bulk of the group were people who were accompanying ill family members. Once medical assistance was completed the government would be looking to send people back to Nauru or to their country of origin with financial assistance. | Dutton said the bulk of the group were people who were accompanying ill family members. Once medical assistance was completed the government would be looking to send people back to Nauru or to their country of origin with financial assistance. |
| Dutton reiterated his intention not to put any child in harm’s way. “We have to be compassionate on one hand but we have to be realistic about the threat from people smugglers. We’re acting in the best interests not only for these children but children that would follow them.” | Dutton reiterated his intention not to put any child in harm’s way. “We have to be compassionate on one hand but we have to be realistic about the threat from people smugglers. We’re acting in the best interests not only for these children but children that would follow them.” |
| Other Anglican churches and affiliated chapels offering sanctuary were: | Other Anglican churches and affiliated chapels offering sanctuary were: |