Peter Qasim

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Peter Qasim
Born May 14, 1974 (1974-05-14) (age 34)
Flag of India Gopalla, Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Occupation Psychiatric Patient
Known for The longest-serving detainee
within the Australian immigration detention system

Peter Qasim (Arabic: بيتر قاسم) was the longest-serving detainee within the Australian immigration detention system, having resided there for over seven years as of 2005. He had not been deported because he was stateless. He had applied to over 80 countries for asylum, but had not been accepted.

His case has been publicised by the well known Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith. Australian authorities have maintained that he has not proven his nationality. He was invited to apply for a new visa on 20 June 2005. In 2005 Qasim was 31 years old, and was held at Baxter Detention Centre until, on June 9, 2005, he was moved to a psychiatric hospital. On July 16, 2005 Qasim was granted a bridging visa by the Australian government.

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