• Latest Deaths in Detention: Mohammed Asif Atay and Meqdad Hussein

    Mohammed Asif Atay and Meqdad Hussein are the latest asylum seekers to die in Australian migration detention centres.  Both were young men.  Mohammed was aged 19.  Meqdad was aged 20.  Both were Hazara asylum seekers from Afghanistan.  Both committed suicide.  Mohammed had been detained for 10 months in the Curtin detention centre in South Australia.  He had developed depression in the lead up to taking his own life.  His death was reported on 29 March 2011.  Meqdad was detained at the Scherger detention centre in North Queensland.   Meqdad had recognised as a genuine refugee two or three months before his death.  He lost hope when the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation issued an adverse security…