The deportation of the Manus Island asylum seeker Azzam el Sheikh has been delayed after a Papua New Guinea doctor found he was not fit to fly.
Azzam el Sheikh in a Lorengau police cell. Photo: Azzam el Sheikh
Mr El Sheikh has resisted attempts to send him back to Lebanon, as he claimed his life would be in danger if he returned.
The 29-year-old sustained several injuries during the attempts which were incorrectly reported as self inflicted.
A refugee advocate, Marilyn Beech, said Mr El Sheikh suffered an injury to his kidneys from a beating by security forces, which prevented his deportation yesterday.
"He was told, 'we'll be taking you to the hospital, then you'll go to the airport, you're being deported today,'" said Ms Beech.
"But when he went to the hospital, the radiologist was concerned by the X-rays of his kidneys, went outside and spoke to immigration officers and shortly after that Azzam was taken back to Bomana prison which is where he is now."
