ACTION IN SUPPORT OF THE THORNE FAMILY
On hearing that young Nyoongar Tribal Sovereign brothers in Saudi Arabia, had been subject to breaches of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights*, the Nyoongar Tent Embassy contacted the family to ask how they could support them.
Shayden Jamil Thorne was remanded in prison in Saudi Arabia 18 months ago after the authorities laid five charges against him. His lawyer has stated that he had been tortured and forced to confess to all five charges under duress. Shayden’s brother, Janaid, was imprisoned for 3 months for protesting his brother’s innocence. The Saudi police had detained Janaid’s Australian passport, and frightened of being re-arrested, he had gone into hiding. The boys’ family had made repeated requests for help from the Department of Foreign Affairs, but their pleas had been ignored.
On May 24th 2013, the Nyoongar Tent Embassy, family members and supporters marched up St. George’s Terrace to the Department of Foreign Affairs, stopping traffic and canvassing support and donations along the way. The Thorne family were immediately given a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Nyoongar Tent Embassy helped the family to travel to the Eastern States in order for them to gain direct contact with federal government officials and support groups. Further lobbying by the Nyoongar Tent Embassy has resulted in the Thorne Family gaining pro bono legal representation.
In February 2014 both Thorne brothers had safely returned to Western Australia. You can read more about it by clicking the link to this article here: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/06/shayden-thorne-adjusts-life-perth-after-saudi-prison-release
*The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has abstained from signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Both Saudi Arabia and Australia are signatories to the UN Convention Against Torture
Shayden Jamil Thorne was remanded in prison in Saudi Arabia 18 months ago after the authorities laid five charges against him. His lawyer has stated that he had been tortured and forced to confess to all five charges under duress. Shayden’s brother, Janaid, was imprisoned for 3 months for protesting his brother’s innocence. The Saudi police had detained Janaid’s Australian passport, and frightened of being re-arrested, he had gone into hiding. The boys’ family had made repeated requests for help from the Department of Foreign Affairs, but their pleas had been ignored.
On May 24th 2013, the Nyoongar Tent Embassy, family members and supporters marched up St. George’s Terrace to the Department of Foreign Affairs, stopping traffic and canvassing support and donations along the way. The Thorne family were immediately given a meeting with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Nyoongar Tent Embassy helped the family to travel to the Eastern States in order for them to gain direct contact with federal government officials and support groups. Further lobbying by the Nyoongar Tent Embassy has resulted in the Thorne Family gaining pro bono legal representation.
In February 2014 both Thorne brothers had safely returned to Western Australia. You can read more about it by clicking the link to this article here: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/06/shayden-thorne-adjusts-life-perth-after-saudi-prison-release
*The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has abstained from signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Both Saudi Arabia and Australia are signatories to the UN Convention Against Torture
photos: Michaela Pearce
