‘No fresh air’: Horror stories from refugees detained in the same hotel as Novak Djokovic

Horrific stories have emerged from those staying in the same hotel as Novak Djokovic, with one man revealing his eight-year nightmare.

Protesters want refugees released from a facility in Carlton. Picture: David Crosling

An asylum seeker being held in the same Melbourne hotel as tennis star Novak Djokovic has described parts of his eight-year ordeal as “horrific”.

In an interview with news.com.au’s podcast I’ve Got News For You, Adnan Choopani, 23, is still living in detention despite being recognised as a refugee more than five years ago.

He is one of the unlucky ones kept in limbo while others have been allowed to live in the community, in what some have described as an “unfair” process. The decision on who gets freedom appears to be arbitrary.

“They are releasing hundreds and hundreds – we’ve just been unlucky,” Mr Choopani said.

“It’s so random. They can release us by today or in a few days – like how they did release 120 [people] I think last year, in just a few weeks and months.”

Mr Choopani arrived by boat as a 15-year-old from Iran and initially spent almost 11 months in an adult facility on Christmas Island due to an error by authorities.

“It was a tough experience for me and kind of horrific because I was really young,” he told news.com.au’s Andrew Bucklow.

“I didn’t know how to deal with adult life. Even I can’t really communicate with people. And it was really a harsh experience for me.”

Mr Choopani said some of his friends had set themselves on fire, one died after doing this, and another one who suffered burns to around 40-50 per cent of his body was still in detention with them at the Park Hotel in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton.

Adnan Choopani (left) and his cousin Mehdi have been in detention for more than eight years. Picture: Supplied

There has been renewed attention on the refugees living in the hotel after Djokovic was transferred to the facility while the Federal Court hears an appeal about the cancellation of his visa.

Mr Choopani was finally brought to Australia in 2019 for medical treatment after spending six years on Nauru. He was first sent to Brisbane, where he was moved around different facilities in the city, before being transferred to Melbourne.

He said he has his own room at the Park Hotel but the window is locked.

“We can’t get fresh air, access to fresh air, and the food is disgusting,” he said.

“It’s just chaos, it’s just bizarre.”

Nothing more banging on a drum war with China and border protection. We have been victims of Australia’s immigration system.#freeDjokovicpic.twitter.com/fPU0N7hwsg

— Adnan Choopani (@AdnanChoopani) January 7, 2022

Last year Guardian Australia analysed the outcomes of asylum seekers arriving in Australia after July 2013 and found 47 per cent remained in limbo. Around 86.7 per cent of these have been recognised as refugees.

Mr Choopani was himself recognised as a refugee more than five years ago but still has no indication of when he might be allowed to leave detention.

In July last year, he attempted suicide after being reminded of his journey to Australia, an experience he is still not comfortable talking about.

“I was completing my eight years detention,” he said. “It just reminded me of my first day when I get out of the boat.”

Asylum seeker supporters hold a rally outside The Park Hotel in Carlton. Picture: Josie Hayden

He said his experience in detention has destroyed his mental health.

“I’m still suffering from the experience until now, I’m suffering from PTSD,” he said.

Looking back, he said regrets his decision to seek asylum in Australia and said he would go back if it wasn’t for the knowledge the Iranian government would have him killed.

“I definitely would, but I know they’re going to torture me physically and mentally.

“But here in Australian detention they do it in a professional way – they just torture you mentally.”

After years of waiting to be released, Mr Choopani said he has lost hope.

Adnan Choopani has been in immigration detention for eight years. Picture: Twitter

“[I] can’t trust no process, and I still can’t believe I’m going to [ever] be out of detention,” he said.

He had one message for Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews: “If you can’t really help us, let New Zealand and other countries to help us.

“Or she can release us like she release[d] others. We are in the same journey, we are in the same boat.

“Show us a mercy, which she did show our friend, please.”