Australia – The Canberra Times, November 29, 2024
Australians risk being used “as pawns and bargaining chips in geopolitical games” through hostage diplomacy as the federal government reviews how it tackles such cases.
Those taken captive by authoritarian or corrupt regimes “suffer lengthy imprisonments frequently marked by inhumane treatment and human rights violations that deprive them not only of their liberty but also their dignity”.
“They are denied any semblance of justice, unable to access help, and cut off from their families and the rest of the world,” a report into how the federal government should address the issue found.
Academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who was wrongfully detained in Iran on trumped-up espionage charges, described a lack of support when returning to Australia, with no medical or psychological help provided.
Other former detainees gave similar evidence and outlined hardships for their families.
Dr Moore-Gilbert, who is the Director of the Australian Wrongful and Arbitrary Detention Alliance (AWADA), has spearheaded a push for the government to set up a dedicated wrongful detention envoy to offer more support for people affected.
