Peter Qasim

2021-08-24T19:44:35Z

2A02:C7F:64A1:FE00:B067:80:AB99:FAC7:

{{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 (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names =
| known_for = The longest-serving detainee <br> within the [[Immigration detention in Australia|Australian immigration detention system]]
| occupation =
}}
'''Peter Qasim''' ({{lang-ur|پیٹر قاسم}}) was the longest-serving detainee in [[Immigration detention in Australia|Australian immigration detention]], having been detained there for over seven years. He had not been [[deported]] because he was [[stateless person|stateless]]. He was detained at [[Baxter Immigration Reception and Processing Centre]]<ref name="srv"/> before being transferred to an Adelaide psychiatric facility.<ref name="lsd">{{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 }}</ref>

He had applied to over 80 countries for [[Political asylum|asylum]], but had not been accepted.<ref name="qgr">{{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 }}</ref> This includes India, which claims sovereignty over [[Kashmir]], from where Qasim originates.<ref name="srv">{{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 }}</ref>

==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.<ref>[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]</ref>

His case has been publicised by the well-known Australian entrepreneur [[Dick Smith (entrepreneur)|Dick Smith]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> Australian authorities have maintained that he has not proven his nationality. He was invited to apply for a new [[Visa (document)|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.<ref name="afim">{{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 }}</ref>

===Release===
On 16 July 2005 Qasim was granted a [[Visa (document)|bridging visa]] by the Australian government.<ref name="lsr">{{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 }}</ref> The visa granted permission to work and to receive welfare benefits. He spent a total of six years and 10 months in detention.<ref name="ola">{{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 }}</ref>

He is still holding a bridging (return pending visa) visa as of September 2013.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia}}
*[[Cornelia Rau]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Qasim, Peter}}
[[Category:Stateless people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian people of Kashmiri descent]]
[[Category:Australian Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:People from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:People from Rajouri district]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Peter Qasim