News Bulletin: An asylum seeker, whose detention became the focus of protests, deported from Australia

Lawyers for an asylum seeker, whose detention became the focus of protests, say he's been deported to Iraq where he faces persecution.

AAP Source: AAP

The 58-year-old Iraqi man, known only as Saeed, arrived in Australia in 2012 after fleeing Iraq with his brother. Saeed's legal representative, Alison Battisson, from Human Rights For All, says he's illiterate, penniless and in poor health, and a member of a persecuted ethnic minority. She says his brother and others from his region were granted asylum, but Saeed was denied on an administrative technicality. Four people were arrested after protesters clashed with police when Saeed was transferred to Sydney's Villawood detention centre in March. Ms Battisson says she called her client on Sunday afternoon and another Villawood detainee told her more than a dozen guards had taken Saeed away and he was being deported. The Department of Immigration has been contacted for comment.