Peter Qasim

{{Short description|Indian-born immigration detainee}}

{{EngvarB|date=April 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox person

| image =

| image_size = 150px |

| name = Peter Qasim

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|5|14}}

| birth_place = Gopalla, Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, India

| death_date =

| death_place =

| other_names =

| known_for = The longest-serving detainee
within the Australian immigration detention system

| occupation =

}}

Peter Qasim ({{langx|ur|پیٹر قاسم}}) was the longest-serving detainee in Australian immigration detention, having been detained there for over seven years. He had not been deported because he was stateless. He was detained at Baxter Immigration Reception and Processing Centre before being transferred to an Adelaide psychiatric facility.{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/06/20/1119119768388.html |title=Longest serving detainee offered new visa |access-date=23 September 2012 |date=20 June 2005 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media }}

He had applied to over 80 countries for asylum, but had not been accepted.{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/06/22/1119321780825.html |title=Qasim's grim record-beating spell to end in days |access-date=23 September 2012 |date=22 June 2005 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media }} This includes India, which claims sovereignty over Kashmir, from where Qasim originates.{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10125379 |title=Stateless refugee 'victim' of Australian immigration policy |author=Kathy Marks |access-date=23 September 2012 |date=13 May 2005 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=APN Holdings NZ }}

Detention in Australia

In personal accounts Qasim described escaping from his home village of Gopalla in India, into Pakistan, then through Singapore and Papua New Guinea onto Australia. Qasim's provenance, however, proved difficult to verify due to a lack of supporting documentation or witnesses. This lack of evidence, and numerous unsuccessful attempts to validate Qasim's story were primarily responsible for his prolonged period of detention.[http://www.safecom.org.au/peter-qasim3.htm "Life in detention for seven years"] The Age. Saturday 5 March 2005. Retrieved on 2 May 2013]

His case has been publicised by the well-known Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith.{{cite web | title=Longest-serving detainee moved to psychiatric hospital | work=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1388761.htm | access-date = 2012-09-23}} Australian authorities have maintained that he has not proven his nationality. He was invited to apply for a new visa on 20 June 2005. In 2005, Qasim was 31 years old, and was held at Baxter Detention Centre until, on 9 June 2005, he was moved to a psychiatric hospital. He received treatment for depression.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4690423.stm |title=Australia frees 'Indian' migrant |access-date=23 September 2012 |date=17 July 2005 |work=BBC News }}

=Release=

On 16 July 2005 Qasim was granted a bridging visa by the Australian government.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/free-at-last/2005/07/17/1121538857183.html |title=Labor says released Qasim deserves permanency |access-date=23 September 2012 |date=17 July 2005 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media }} The visa granted permission to work and to receive welfare benefits. He spent a total of six years and 10 months in detention.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/our-lives-are-in-limbo-former-detainees/2008/01/04/1198950073964.html |title=Our lives are in limbo: former detainees |author=Andra Jackson |access-date=23 September 2012 |date=5 January 2008 |newspaper=The Age |publisher=The Age Company }}

He is still holding a bridging visa as of September 2013.{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/forgotten-a-lonely-life-lived-without-hope-20130906-2taey.html |title=Forgotten: a lonely life lived without hope |access-date=1 February 2014 |date= 7 September 2013 |author=Andra Jackson |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media }}

See also

{{Portal|Australia}}

References