From an informed net-friend this week (13 Feb. 2003)

Anyone else got any info. on this?

Most of the Iranians in detention now are either Christian or Mandean people who fear religious persecution if they go back home. In Port Hedland at the moment there are 60 Christians - mostly Iranian or Sri Lankan, and 50 Muslims- so much for the assumption that most people in detention are Muslims.

Since the fire there have been extraordinary efforts to try to get the Iranians to go back home- a delegation of DIMIA bueacrats from Canberra, and a parliamentary delegation have both visited PH and spoken to the Iranians individually and in groups trying to persuade them to go back home. They are very distressed about this.

Ruddock has a big problem. He cannot forcibly deport them and they are unwilling to return to religious persecution. What is he going to do with them?

Shalom

Rowland Croucher