Boochani granted refugee status in NZ

Wellington:

Behrouz Boochani, the Kurdish Iranian exile and journalist who became the voice of those incarcerated on Manus

Island, has had his refugee status formally recognised by New Zealand, and granted a visa to live there. He said he finally felt secure “knowing that I have a future”.

“I am very happy to have some certainty about my future, I feel relieved and secure finally.”

Boochani was officially notified by New Zealand’s government that his claim for asylum had been accepted on Thursday.