Sydney Family Appeals to Home Affairs Minister Over Palestinian Woman’s Visa Cancellation

The detention of Maha Almassri, a 61-year-old Palestinian grandmother, in a pre-dawn raid by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers, has left her Sydney family heartbroken, pleading with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke for answers. Detained at Villawood Immigration Detention Centre after her visa was canceled on security grounds, Almassri’s case raises serious human rights concerns about transparency and fairness in Australia’s immigration system. Her family’s fight highlights the plight of refugees caught in opaque bureaucratic processes.

On July 10, 2025, nearly 15 ABF officers raided Almassri’s son’s home in Punchbowl, Sydney, at 5:30 a.m., detaining her after canceling her bridging visa. The decision, made by Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill, cited an Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) assessment deeming her a “security risk,” per documents reported by The Guardian. Almassri, who fled Gaza in February 2024, had been granted a visitor visa and was seeking protection. Her cousin, Mohammed Almassri, told The Guardian, “We need our auntie back, we need her freedom,” emphasizing her escape from war-torn Gaza only to face detention in Australia.

The family, supported by over 100 relatives, insists Almassri poses no threat, citing her age and prior security clearances. Soliman, her brother-in-law, described the raid to SBS News as traumatic, saying, “They terrorized everyone inside.” Human rights lawyer Alison Battisson criticized the lack of transparency, noting such raids are standard but troubling. The Labor government’s refusal to clarify the “security risk” fuels distrust, with Burke stating only that public information may not align with ASIO’s, per SBS News. This secrecy denies Almassri due process, a cornerstone of human rights.

The case reflects broader issues, with Amnesty International reporting over 7,000 Palestinian visa rejections since October 2023. Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie questioned the initial visa approval, asking how Almassri can be deported to war-ravaged Gaza, per News Corp. As protests grow, her detention underscores the need for clear, humane immigration policies that respect refugees’ rights to safety and dignity.