Court shown footage of Iranian refugee Omid Masoumali on fire at Nauru
Another man planned to set himself on fire in front of United Nations officials visiting Nauru before fellow Iranian refugee Omid Masoumali did, an inquest has heard.
Phone footage of a petrol-doused Mr Masoumali pacing around a re-settlement area of the Pacific island, yelling intensely then going up in a large ball of flames has been played in Brisbane Coroners Court.
UN legal officer Chanelle Taoi testified on Tuesday she was conducting a mental health survey with a Rohingya family in April 2016 when she heard Mr Masoumali yelling.
“As I walked towards him, I got to about two metres thereabouts from him. What gave rise to concern for me as I was saying ’can you speak with me’, his body language was to retreat,” Ms Taoi said.
“My immediate thought, or impression I should say, was that he was a bit scared so I retreated. My next critical, I suppose, priority was to get someone who could speak with him.”
She said she asked a group of observing Iranian men if they spoke English but they did not respond.
She also tried calling two colleagues but could not reach them.
“That’s when I started looking around for the one Farsi interpreter I knew was there and I yelled out to people around me, does anyone know where the Farsi interpreter is,” she said.
“No one did.
“As I was getting up, trying to work out what next to do, that’s when the incident occurred.
“I think what’s very difficult recalling that situation, is he tried to light it once and lit it again and it was successful.”
She said a fire blanket did not completely extinguish the flames on Mr Masoumali’s body and water was needed.
Mr Masoumali died two days later.
Melbourne-based refugee Medhi Diba also witnessed Mr Masoumali setting himself alight.
Mr Diba said he also intended setting his trousers alight in front of UN officials and putting them out with the fire blanket.
The incident would be filmed and put on social media, he said, but he did not inform Mr Masoumali of his plan.
His partner said he set himself on fire after she became upset and frustrated about her conversation with the UN.
The woman testified she had told them of her miserable plight on Nauru but believed the organisation approved of their treatment by the Australian government.
The inquest continues.
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