Episode two: We say it’s chance
Mozhgan met Hussain in 2013, both packed into a fishing boat, hoping to get to Australia. She takes Nicole to visit him in West Jakarta, where he now lives with his dad in a small room. Their single beds touch toe to toe.
They tell a story, and it involves TV cameras, mug shots and an ill-fated escape on tiptoes past drunken guards. Hussain hasn’t seen his mum and sister since the night of his birthday, over six years ago.
“I jumped from a wall, four metres, and then they catch me, with my father. Then they took me to the police car... That was the last time I saw her.”
We speak to Australian researcher Asher Hirsch and lawyer Trish Cameron about how Australia shaped the lives of refugees in Indonesia—and that includes Hussain and Mozhgan, even though they never got there.
Finally, one night at 4 am, Mozhgan Moarefizadeh and her family slip away from immigration detention in Jakarta. They walk for hours in heavy rain, with no phones and no idea where they are. Mozhgan is 21, and it’s the start of her new life.
Transcript
Full transcript of episode two available here
In this episode
Mozhgan Moarefizadeh
Nicole Curby
Hussain Badavi
Asher Hirsch
Trish Cameron
More information
The Wait was written and produced by Nicole Curby, and co-hosted by Mozhgan Moarefizadeh. Michael Green is the co-writer and supervising producer. Editorial support from Miles Martignoni at The Guardian Australia. Sound design by Bec Fary. Theme music by Emma Davis. Photo by Nicole Curby.
This project was supported by the Walkley Public Fund and a Judith Neilson Institute Freelance Grant for Asian Journalism.
Thank you
Tessa Rex, Gem Romuld, Trish Cameron, André Dao, Patrick Tumewu and Ben Doherty.