Behrouz Boochani’s literary prize acceptance speech – full transcript
This is a transcript of the speech Behrouz Boochani delivered via video link on 31 January 2019
When I arrived at Christmas Island six years ago, an immigration official called me into the office and told me that they were going to exile me to Manus Island, a place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I told them that I am a writer. That same person just laughed at me, and ordered the guards to exile me to Manus.