Doctors at a hospital in Brisbane, Australia are refusing to release a 12-month-old girl to the government who wants to deport the sick child back to an offshore refugee processing camp. 

A phenomenal instance in where a federal institution, stands up to national rulings in the protection of a young life. 

Asha, who was reportedly the first baby born in the center on Nauru. Her mother is in the camp waiting for her asylum request to be processed by the Australian government. In 2015, Asha suffered burns after boiling water was spilt on her in an accident.

The Australian government is trying to send 267 asylum seekers back to Nauru after they were brought to Australia for various reasons, including health issues like Asha. 

Doctors at Brisbane Children’s Hospital say they will not release baby Asha until a suitable home is found for her.  

The standoff is part of a larger #LetThemStay movement born out of a recent ruling issued by Australian High Court that approved the government sending 267 asylum seekers (26 adults, 54 children and 37 babies) back to processing and detention camps in Nauru despite past precedent that asylum seekers who physically reached Australia would be processed in Australia (and often integrated while going through the process).  

A photo posted by @stayingintheemeraldcity on

The LetThemStay movement is drawing massive crowd, in the thousands showing their support. Yesterday, 100 comedians pledged to solidarity to support the 37 babies who will be returned to Nauru., composing a letter to urge Turnbell and Dutton to act.

READ MORE about the comedians fighting for the 37 babies here.

Unfortunately, Prime Minister Turnbell remains stagnant on his views toward asylum seekers and refugees. His government believes they must not remain in Australia, they should go somewhere else. Even with the #LetThemStay movement garnering huge crowds of people urging Turnbell to do something about this injustice, the prime minister remains silent.

If these women, men, children and babies are returned, they are being forced back into camps that are heavily criticized. Many children in the Nauru center have attempted suicide, believing it to be their only way out.

This movement to keep this group of refugees in Australia is peaceful , with participants carrying handmade signs, written letters and gigantic banners. #LetThemStay is a public display of the quilting together of human solidarity that these global citizens understand that everyone deserves a better life.

This stand for the asylum seekers-in support of a child barely a year old-is not small, it shows the passion and courage that is needed to change the minds of those in power. A lesson and an inspiration for all global citizens.

TopicsCitizenshipAustraliaBabiesChildrenprotestMovementMalcolm Turnbull#LetThemStay

Editorial

Demand Equity

Doctors refuse to let sick baby be deported by Australian government in powerful stand for #LetThemStay

By Katherine Curtiss