Australian federal government facing legal action over Manus Island asylum seeker death

Lawyers Weekly Australia reports

The family of an asylum seeker killed on Manus Island has commenced legal action against the Australian government.

The parents of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati, who died in 2014 in the Manus Island riots, are suing both the Australian federal government and security contractor G4S Australia, alleging negligence in their son’s death.

Twenty-three-year-old Reza Berati was beaten to death by guards and other local contractors in a violent rampage at the Manus Island detention centre that left another detainee shot and 77 other asylum seekers injured.

In an Australian Senate committee inquiry into the incident, it was found that the violence was “eminently foreseeable” and that the Australian government had failed in its duty to protect Mr Berati from harm. Despite the inquiry report specifically recommending that compensation be provided to Mr Berati’s family for his death, it was never followed.

Mr Berati’s father Torab Berati said that he wanted “justice” for his son.

“Our family is heartbroken and we have been suffering for so long with his death. We won’t recover from our loss,” he said.

Read the full report at  https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/politics/32024-federal-government-facing-legal-action-over-manus-island-death?utm_source=LawyersWeekly&utm_campaign=27_07_21&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3&utm_emailID=882dfb433067b4011c87c45ff376fe5c42fdf5fc8de3c999c59a0ade0bb38b91