Two Iranian refugees released from Australia's custody

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 3, IRNA - Two Iranian nationals who were seriously beaten up by Papua New Guinea police and immigration officers on New Year's Eve were released from custody in Australian detention center on Manus Island. 'The men were released after 36 hours in the cells at the Lorengau Police Station on the island, where they said they did not receive food, water or medical treatment,' Australian ABC Channel reported on Monday. 'They told other refugees up to 10 police officers beat them after they were stopped by PNG immigration officials on their way into town.' An Iranian refugee in Manus Island who met two men while being released said their wounds are being infected. Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the advocates may be taking advantage of the incident to attack the Government's immigration policies. ABC quoted Dutton as saying if people have had an interaction with the PNG police on a New Year's Eve night, he would wait to see the full facts of that case before he'd make any comment to say that they were targeted because they were refugees or because they were part of the Manus Island population. This is not the first time that the Iranian nationals have been mistreated in Australian refugee camps. Based on statistics, about 450 Iranian asylum seekers are in Manus Island detention centre whose requests have been declined. Iran had previously voiced its deep concerns toward refugees' rights violation in Australia detention centers. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had criticized Western governments for adopting a double standard approach towards Iran. Zarif also said Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, hundreds of whom languish in detention on offshore detention camps, Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, thousands of whom are Iranians, is 'unconscionable'. 'We did not send these people out. These people were lured by human traffickers and by basically propaganda coming from, I don't know, governmental sources or others, which said they'll be welcoming those who claim to be victims of what you describe as violations of human rights, so - and they did come. They're not victims of violations of human rights.' 13787/IRNA