Ali Bakhtiarvandi

Despite the immigration minister's attempts to block information and ban journalists from offshore detention camps, information continues to leak out. Ali Bakhtiarvandi was held in immigration detention for four and a half years in the early 2000s before being recognised as a refugee. He is in regular telephone contact with detainees on Christmas Island. He spoke to Green Left Weekly's Chris Peterson about the recent events on Christmas Island. * * *
Behind the Wire is an oral history project documenting the stories of men, women and children who have experienced mandatory detention. It seeks to bring a new perspective to the public understanding of mandatory detention by sharing the reality of the people who have lived it. Green Left Weekly photographer and Socialist Alliance member Ali Bakhtiarvandi was one of those interviewed. This is a brief excerpt of his story. You can read the full story here. * * *