Australia’s use of hotels as detention centres was unlawful, refugee’s lawyer argues in appeal

Kurdish refugee Mostafa ‘Moz’ Azimitabar (centre) has launched an appeal after losing a federal court case last year that argued his treatment was unlawful. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The commonwealth’s detainment of a Kurdish refugee in hotels that “deprived” him of his liberty was unlawful, a lawyer for the former detainee has argued in an appeal against a federal court decision.

Kurdish refugee Mostafa “Moz” Azimitabar, who was detained in two Melbourne hotels for more than 14 months, launched an appeal after he lost his federal court case last year that argued his treatment was unlawful.