Abdul Aziz Muhamat is from Darfur, in Western Sudan. He’s been in Australian immigration detention on Manus Island since 2013. But surprisingly after six years he’s been given permission to visit Geneva for two weeks, because he’s been shortlisted for a major international award for human rights defenders. It’s an acknowledgment for what he’s done, resisting Australia’s offshore detention regime… but then he has to return to Manus Island. Back to the same situation he’s being celebrated for campaigning against.
A documentary for ABC Radio National, Earshot. Part one of a two-part series, along with A Stranger in Geneva. Listen now, via ABC, 28 minutes.
I’m waiting in person at the airport in Geneva, Switzerland, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aziz as he comes into the arrivals hall.
Supervising Producer Lyn Gallacher, sound engineer Melissa May. Music composed by Hour House (Mark Leacy and Sam Kenna)