The Kurdish Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani has continued his sweep of the Australian literary prize landscape, winning the National Biography award – yet another award the refugee was unable to accept in person, as he enters his sixth year of detention on Manus Island.
Australia’s State Library of New South Wales said the autobiography won this year’s AU$25,000 (US$17,000) National Biography Award for his book “No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison”.
“I don’t want to talk about literature; I would [just] like to say that I think the literature community as a part of civil society of Australia are part of our resistance in front of this system, and I think it is very valuable, and I do appreciate everyone for recognizing my work,” he said during his appearance, according to The Guardian.
Boochani fled Iran in 2013 under fear of persecution against Kurds. He has been detained in the illegal immigrant’s detention on the Manus Island since then, following his arrest by Australian marines after he was rescued by Indonesian sailors.