The UN committee against torture has ruled that Australia exposed an Iranian asylum seeker to torture and ill-treatment while in detention. The man arrived in 2013 on Christmas Island after fleeing Iran. Authorities moved him to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, where he stayed for about three years in harsh conditions. The committee noted he suffered serious violence, including having his throat slit by a security guard. In 2019, he was sent to Australia for medical treatment but stayed in immigration detention for three more years despite severe physical and mental health problems. He was finally released on a bridging visa in 2022. Australia argued it did not control the detention facilities on Manus Island and that it provided proper medical care. It also said the detention in Australia was lawful and reviewed regularly. The UN committee rejected these claims. It said Australia managed and funded the Manus Island facility enough to hold responsibility. This is similar to other UN decisions about Australian detention centers offshore. Committee member Jorge Contesse said, "Human rights protection and international law obligations do not disappear when detention facilities are relocated offshore." He added, "Where a state creates and maintains a system of offshore detention and retains decisive influence over the conditions, it remains responsible under international law." The committee found Australia failed to stop torture or ill-treatment on Manus Island or provide adequate care later. It called the treatment "torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," violating international rules. The committee also said the man’s detention in Australia was not fair or necessary and caused more suffering. The UN watchdog warned that Australia’s offshore policies repeatedly cause severe physical and mental harm to asylum seekers. It urged the Australian government to fully compensate and rehabilitate the man and to review his protection claims. It also asked Australia to prevent such violations in the future. The Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, was asked for comments but no statement was provided yet.