Australia's use of handcuffs on asylum seekers inhumane and unlawful, advocates say

Exclusive: Landmark case in federal court to test handcuff use when transferring mentally ill detainees

Australia's use of handcuffs to transfer mentally ill asylum seekers to medical appointments is unlawful, inhumane, traumatising and illegally restricts access to healthcare, a landmark new case alleges.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre on Monday launched a test case in the federal court on behalf of an asylum seeker, with the pseudonym of Yasir, who is challenging the lawfulness of handcuff use when transferring those in immigration detention to and from medical appointments.