Friends and Family of Manus Island Refugee Hamed Shamshiripour Hold Vigil in Iran

The family and friends of Iranian man Hamed Shamshiripour held a vigil for him in his native town of Gachsaran, Iran, on August 8.Shamshiripour was an asylum seeker who was found hanging from a tree near a refugee transit centre in East Lorengau, Papua New Guinea, on Monday morning, August 7. For more than a year, concerns had been raised about the 31-year-old’s deteriorating mental health. The Guardian Australia said the Australian Border Force was aware of his “psychotic episodes.”PNG police commissioner Gary Baki ruled out foul play and said Shamshiripour died by suicide. However, refugees, activists and politicians in Australia have called for Shamshiripour’s body to be transported to Australia for an autopsy. Photos of the scene and of Shamshiripour’s body sparked concerns that he was attacked before being hanged.This video shows a memorial held by Hamed’s family in Gachsaran, Iran. His family are being represented by Australian human rights lawyer George Newhouse. Credit: Shamshiripour family via Storyful