Queensland's energy minister has made an emotional plea in parliament for the release of one of his constituents from immigration detention in Darwin.
Mark Bailey has choked back tears while urging federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to urgently review the detention of Mojgan Shamsalilpoor, who arrived by boat from Iran in 2012 before being forced into detention in Darwin.
Mr Bailey said she was a genuine refugee who fled Iran under very difficult circumstances and could not return to her homeland, but now faced indefinite detention away from her family when she'd committed no crime.
He said Ms Shamsalilpoor had lived and studied in Brisbane before being sent to Darwin, and was married to an Iranian man who also arrived by boat but had been given permanent resident status and allowed to stay.
"Her application for a partnership visa has been rejected, leaving her two options: to stay here imprisoned indefinitely or to return to Iran, where her safety cannot be guaranteed," Mr Bailey told state parliament.
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"Mojgan is suffering in detention. She is a young woman who has been imprisoned for seven months and is stuck with no way of returning to freedom, with no prospect of release."
Mr Bailey urged Mr Dutton to review the case.
