A protester holds a placard during a rally in support of refugees in central Sydney, Australia, October 19, 2015. Australia launched its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, but the bid was overshadowed by a bitter dispute between the government and human rights lawyers over the fate of a pregnant Somali asylum seeker who claims she was raped. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton accused refugee advocates and lawyers of fabricating stories about the treatment of the 23-year-old woman, known as Abyan, while refugee advocates have likened her removal from Australia in the dead of night to rendition. The dispute has again thrown the spotlight on Australia's controversial immigration policies, which include turning back boats of refugees at sea and holding asylum seekers in offshore detention camps in poor Pacific island nations. REUTERS/David Gray
Protesters rallied in support of refugees in central Sydney this weekend (Picture: REUTERS/David Gray)

A Somali refugee has claimed her abortion was blocked by Australian officials after she asked for counselling.

In an emotional letter, the 23-year-old pleads for help after being ‘secretly sent back’ to her home country of Nauru in the Pacific, where she was raped.

The woman, known only as Abyan, had been taken to mainland Australia because an abortion could not be performed in Nauru, where she lived in an detention camp for immigrants.

But she claims she ‘never saw a doctor’ at Villawood immigration detention centre in Sydney – and when she met with a nurse there was ‘no interpreter’ on hand.

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Refugee writes emotional letter saying (Australian) immigration officials wouldn't let her have an abortion after she was raped Source: George Newhouse / FB LINK: https://www.facebook.com/george.newhouse/posts/10153743547139529
Abyan’s emotional letter (Picture: Facebook)

The letter reads: ‘I was raped on Nauru I have been very sick. I have never said that I did not want a termination. I never saw a doctor. I saw a nurse at a clinic but there was no counselling.

‘I saw a nurse at Villawood but there was no interpreter. I asked but was not allowed to talk with my lawyer. Please help me.’

Peter Dutton, Australia’s federal Minister for Immigration, said on Saturday that Abyan was offered counselling on Nauru beforehand – and changed her mind about the abortion following the move.

He also denied an interpreter was not provided for Abyan, who is currently 14 weeks pregnant.

Special counsel for Shine Lawyers George Newhouse, who is representing Abyan, wrote to senior officials before she was removed from the country.

 

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Federal Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton waits to be briefed on serious organised crime at the Australian Crime Commission in Canberra, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Federal Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton in August (Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

He wrote: ‘Our client has not decided to refuse a termination and you have completely misunderstood or misconstrued her position which is as set out in my letter … of 14 October 2015.

‘Our client has the right to counselling before a termination and to understand the procedure, that is all we have been seeking and to represent her position as a refusal is disingenuous and cruel.’

Newhouse requested to see Abyan, as is afforded by Australian law and the 1951 Refugees Convention, but was refused access to her.

Abyan fled persecution in Somalia and was reportedly raped on Nauru in July.

An online petition, boasting almost 65,000 signatures at the time of writing, will call on Mr Dutton to provide Abyan with medical assistance.

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