AustLit

In memory of Shahraz Kayani.

Author note: In memory of Shahraz Kayani, a 48 years old Pakistani, who burnt himself to death at the entrance to the Australian Parliament in 2001. The Australian Liberal government of John Howard did not allow him a family reunion. There were exceptions to the reunion. Phillip Ruddock, the Minister for Immigration considered it too expensive to allow his disabled daughter to migrate to Australia. In 2003 John Howard in secrecy committed Australian troops to an illegal war with Iraq and hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into it. Leaders should be held responsible when they give priority to a culture of death and racism instead of a truly planetarian commitment to a culture of life and acceptance of others.