Possible devastating effects of deporting Afghanis to Malaysia on our soldiers in Afghanistan

The government’s vow to broadcast the inhumane (possibly violent) deportation of asylum seekers arrived today to Christmas Island to Malaysia could have devastating effects on our soldiers serving overseas. The Social Justice Network warns that the footage of Australian officers roughly handling women and children (all mainly Afghani) could spark fresh targeted round of deadly attacks by Afghani militia on our soldiers participating in invading that country.

“Any footage of Western soldiers roughly handling Afghani women and children would be seen as an attack on national and religious pride of the whole nation of Afghanistan” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of SJN. “Not only this. The government is vowing to film this rough inhumane treatment and broadcast them on local TV stations across the Middle East”.

This year, we saw increasing targeted attacks on Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan. The image of Australia is already very bad across the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now the government will send another message of hate, racism and humiliating of foreign nationals. This will have devastating effect on many aspects of Australian life, including tourism and economical relationships.

“The Australian government by sending such rough footages will encourage Afghani militia to spread hate against Australia. Consequently, we would expect that this would be translated in increased military attacks on our soldiers stationed there”.

The Australian government, again, is picking the wrong messages and the wrong circumstances. Such huge misjudgment will probably cost human lives. These lives could have spread beyond our military personnel to include Australian tourists or business people. The Australian government is again ready to sacrifice Australian interests (and this time Australian lives) in a bid to lift its very low electoral approval.

“The Australian government is not only gambling with lives of innocent asylum seekers. But it also gambles with Australian lives (soldiers and civilians)”

We hold the Australian government the full responsibility of any increasing loss of Australian lives as a result of its move to violate international laws on treating refugees and asylum seekers. We also hold the government the full responsibility of the well-being of asylum seekers who will be deported back to unknown destination in Malaysia.

For media contact, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272