Sydney family of detained Palestinian woman plead with home affairs minister over visa cancellation

We need our auntie back, we need her freedom,' says cousin of Maha Almassri, who was moved to Villawood detention centre after pre-dawn raid

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The family of a Palestinian grandmother detained in Sydney by immigration authorities after a pre-dawn raid have pleaded with the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, for answers about her visa cancellation and real representation" to secure her freedom.

Maha Almassri, 61, was on Thursday morning awoken by border force officers at her son's home in western Sydney. She had fled Gaza in February 2024 and entered Australia on a visitor visa shortly afterwards. She was granted a bridging visa in June 2024 after applying for a protection visa.

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