Asylum seeker may end pregnancy rather than raise her child on Nauru

The Guardian

An Iranian asylum seeker who is set to be returned to Nauru is considering terminating her pregnancy rather than raising her child in the offshore detention centre.

There are heightened concerns that a group of asylum seekers with infant babies are scheduled to be returned to Nauru imminently, despite serious concerns about their wellbeing at the offshore detention centre.

The immigration minister, Peter Dutton, and his department have both refused to comment despite the concerns.

Maryam – not her real name – is an Iranian asylum seeker who is currently being held in a Melbourne detention centre with her husband.

She was previously held at the detention centre on Nauru, but was brought to the mainland due to her husband’s deteriorating mental health. She subsequently fell pregnant, and is approximately 12 weeks into her pregnancy.

In a recording from Maryam that was subsequently passed to Guardian Australia, she pleaded directly to the Australian public to allow her to stay in Australia.

“Now I am pregnant and I don’t want to go to Nauru anymore. There is no security, safety and hygiene situation on Nauru. But immigration want to return me to Nauru by force.

“I’m begging you Australian people to help me, my husband and my baby. I don’t want to grow up my baby on Nauru.

“Please help me to stay in Australia and grow up my baby here with security, safety and acceptable mental health.”