Wahab is an Iraqi and a former political opponent of Saddam Hussein who spent 3 and a half years in detention in Australia. Whilst in detention Wahab often translated for other detainees. He witnessed Australian officials send Iraqis, Kuwaiti Biduns, Palestinians and a Pakistani to Syria. In 2003 his claim for asylum was rejected and he was sent to Syria on a short-term visa.

"If I'd been released maybe I'd be a good person, in Australia. And I hope, you know, in the future, things will not happen like what happened to me." - Wahab

"At the same time that we sent our troops into Iraq we had this bloke [Wahab] locked up in the detention centre. I just hope that the people who made those decisions can sleep comfortably in their beds because I know I can't." - Phil Glendenning