Iranian boy, 10, sues Australian government

[Kire]

{b]Iranian boy, 10, sues Australian government

Monday, August 29, 2005 - ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, August 29 (IranMania) - A 10-year-old Iranian boy launched a landmark legal action against the Australian government Monday, with his lawyers arguing he was psychologically damaged by living in immigration detention camps for more than a year, AFP reported.

Through his father Mahommad Saeed Badraie, Shayan Badraie is suing the Immigration Department and two detention centre operators in a case which could open the way for other inmates to claim compensation from the government.

Lawyer Rebecca Gilsenan said the case before the New South Wales Supreme Court, which will argue the government failed to provide adequate care to Shayan while he was in custody, was the first of its kind.

Shayan and his family arrived in Australia by boat in 2000 and were placed in the Woomera immigration detention centre in South Australia's desert.

In 2001 the boy was hospitalised eight times, and after 17 months in detention had stopped eating, drinking and speaking, according to reports.

Medical evidence is expected to be produced in court to show Shayan was traumatised by what he experienced while in detention.

More: http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=34916&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

[foreigncorrespondent]

1. GOOD!

I hope he wins the case. It might wake the masses up that locking people away lke this is going to cost Australia a lot of money. That Howard really isn't as good as they think he is.