This Popular Music Producer From Iraq Has Some Words About "Bigotry" Against Refugees
“On this day I ask everybody to get behind what’s right.”
Music producer Motez has inspired thousands with a Facebook post commemorating 10 years since he moved to Australia from Iraq.
"On this day, 10 years ago I moved to Australia from Iraq and made Adelaide my new home," he wrote.
"On this day I ask everybody to get behind what's right, to raise their voices in the face of injustice, bigotry and xenophobia, to be informed about the crisis as a whole not only in Australia but around the world and to help those in need who simply cannot 'go back where they came from'.
"I do not believe for one second that Australia as a whole doesn't welcome refugees because 'Real Australians Say Welcome' and I have seen and experienced this first hand."
The Baghdad-born musician is currently touring Australia and has urged his more than 50,000 followers to "get behind what's right" and support the growing push for asylum-seeker rights.
"This is not a political issue," he posted, "it's not about being a 'greenie' or 'socialist', not about right or left wing, it's an issue about being human and humane. It transcends any political or ideological affiliations."
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Both the Labor party and the Coalition have near-identical border protection policies. Federal minister for immigration and border patrol Peter Dutton caused controversy earlier this month after saying "illiterate and innumerate" refugees would threaten Australian jobs.
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Motez told BuzzFeed News he wrote the Facebook post to inform the Australian public that asylum-seekers "can actually contribute to Australia, work their socks off for themselves and [their] country, and can achieve so much".
"I just wanted to use my platform as a musician to shed the light on an issue dear to my heart that we are yet to resolve," he said.
"It's an issue that's been persistent for years and unfortunately viewed with a bit of scrutiny and negativity in lots of media outlets."
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