HE WAS forced to flee his homeland by boat after he refused Saddam Hussein’s orders to amputate the ears of Iraqi army deserters.
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Now Dr Munjed Al Muderis is a pioneering orthopaedic surgeon giving amputees the chance to walk.
The Iraqi born doctor arrived in Australia in 2000 and after months in detention, Dr Muderis trained as an orthopaedic surgeon.
He is one of three surgeons world-wide pioneering a revolutionary technology for amputees known as osseointegration. In his work, he has now restored function and mobility to more than 270 people including an Armidale resident.
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The renowned surgeon will visit the city as the guest speaker at Armidale Sanctuary Humanitarian Settlement’s annual human rights lecture next week.
Dr Muderis, who is a human rights advocate, will recount his own journey travelling to Australia as a refugee by boat.
“I tend to talk about myself. My personal experience is an example about how people can be treated and how people should not be treated,” Dr Muderis said.
“And from that I reflect on my opinion and from where I hope the world will change too.”
Dr Muderis has affiliations with Amnesty International, Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
He said he doesn’t believe Australia’s current policy on processing boat people is sustainable.
“The government policy is futile, in my opinion. Off-shore processing is, as aside from totally inhumane, costly and not long-term,” Dr Muderis said.
‘The damage to the people seeking asylum is huge. It is very sad that we are contributing to this kind of activity.
“We tend to forget the past and let history repeat itself again and again.”
The renowned surgeon will give his lecture ‘Wheel of Fortune’ at Armidale City Bowling Club at 6pm on Thursday, March 15.
Entry is free but donations are welcome.
For more information about the lecture, contact Robin Jones on 6771 1835 or 0432 095 802.