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On Wednesday a group of protesters from the Whistleblowers Activists and Citizens Alliance shut down Australia’s Parliament during question period to protest that country's widely condemned treatment of asylum seekers.
In what one Australian radio station described as a “rowdy” demonstration, activists shouted Australia’s detention policy was "separating families" and "killing innocent people,” while six activists glued themselves to the railing in the public gallery.
Question Time brought to a halt as peaceful protesters hold MPs to account demanding gov #CloseTheCamps. Brave. Powerful. Proud. #qt
— Adam Bandt (@AdamBandt) November 30, 2016
Tweet from Australian Green Party Parliamentarian Andy Brandt
"We are here today because you have become world leaders in cruelty," said one protester. Another said, "We are here today because your policies are breaking our hearts.”
The action closed the session of Parliament for 40 minutes until the activists could be removed.
As thousands of migrants attempt to reach Australia seeking sanctuary, the government has responded by forcibly seizing migrant ships before they arrive and detaining them in what one international human rights report described as an “open-air prison” on the island of Nauru.
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Australia and Nauru Under Fire for Torturing Refugees
Amnesty International has described the policy as a "deliberate policy to inflict harm on refugees" which imposes conditions that "amount to torture". The barbaric policy gained attention in May of last year after two detainees light themselves on fire in protest of conditions. One of the detainees later died of their injuries.
In August the Guardian Newspaper leaked “incident reports” from the detention center which revealed widespread abuse and trauma among the children and women detained.
The policy is supported by both the ruling Conservatives as well as the opposition Labour Party who both condemned the action.
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