Murdered Manus Island asylum seeker was an architect looking for a better life

Asylum seeker Reza Berati, who was murdered at a detention centre on Manus Island on 17 February, was an architect.

Berati died after riots broke out on the island, where another 76 asylum seekers were injured in the violence, with five requiring medical evacuations.

An Iranian national, the 23-year-old graduated as an architect. But unable to find work, he set out for Australia hoping to further his architectural studies. He had dreamed to settle in Melbourne.

According to Barati’s uncle, he had volunteered to teach other detainees how to use computers.

It is currently unknown who murdered Berati, but a post-mortem found Berati died after multiple blows to the head, likely with a piece of wood.

Berati arrived on Manus Island on 27 August 2013.