Thousands sign petition for raped Somali woman be allowed to Australia for abortion

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says it’s time Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull showed some compassion and allowed a Somali refugee who says she was raped on Nauru to come to Australia for an abortion.

Nearly 35,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Mr Turnbull to act in less than 24 hours, following Fairfax Media’s report on the woman’s plea to Australia for medical care.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is being urged to allow the 23-year-old Somali woman to come to Australia for medical treatment.

The Prime Minister has maintained a three-day silence on the issue and his office has referred the matter to the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
Abyan (not her real name) is between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant and through her lawyer has written to Mr Turnbull and Mr Dutton begging to be allowed to come to Australia for an abortion. They gave the government until 5pm on Tuesday to respond but have had no response.
Nathan Elvery from petition website Change.org said the petition in support of the woman generated over 5000 signatures in the first three hours alone.
“The plea posted on Change.org by the young woman’s lawyer is clearly resonating with the public, and demonstrating the national sentiment on the urgency of this issue,” he said.
“Momentum for this petition…is growing, and quickly becoming a measure of how Malcolm Turnbull will engage with the public having their say on issues online.”
Mr Shorten said on Thursday he was “stunned and surprised” at Mr Turnbull’s dithering on the issue, given the government had been aware of the case for weeks.
“This has gone on too long,” he said.

“It’s time for Mr Turnbull and his Liberal Party to show some compassion.
“I’m genuinely stunned and surprised that the government is still refusing to act to help this young woman get the right medical care.”
A spokesman for Mr Dutton has previously said: “All pregnant women receive professional and co-ordinated health care.”
Fairfax Media understands Abyan, a 23-year old woman who fled persecution in Somalia needs culturally appropriate specialist medical treatment for a termination which is not available on Nauru.

Furthermore, the government of Nauru forbids abortions. Abyan and another Somali woman, “Namjan” (not her real name) say they were raped on the tiny island where they were held in detention and then permanently resettled because they came to Australia by boat.
The ABC’s 730 recently broadcast footage of Namjan’s distressing phone call to the Nauruan police immediately after the alleged sexual assault. She says it took police more than four hours to respond.

Sydney Morning Herald