I came across Dan Duggan’s story at a wedding in January 2023. During the evening I connected with a friend I hadn’t seen since pre Covid. Emma told me about her friend, Dan Duggan, who was in maximum security solitary confinement and had been detained there for months.
Dan & his wife, Saffrine, are great friends of Emma’s. Em was heartbroken for the impossibility of Dan’s imprisonment and the untenable nature with which he was being held.
Fast forward another 6 months and I met up with Emma again. We got to talking about Dan and I learnt he was STILL being held in maximum security solitary confinement awaiting extradition by the U S for apparently training Chinese Military to fly, 10 years ago, in South Africa.
Dan is an ex US Marine who became an Australian Citizen when he married Saffrine 12 years ago. They have 6 school aged children & live in country NSW. The morning Dan was taken by the AFP he had dropped his kids to school & was on his way to meet Saffrine. He never showed up.
It took 3 months of imprisonment before Dan was even informed of his charges. He was and remains in deep shock & complete disbelief at this living nightmare - a shock shared by his wife and children. They also bare the huge weight of grief, anger and financial strain. It’s currently over 330 400 500 days now that Dan has been locked in a 2 x 4m cell, alone. It’s a human rights abuse.
The Australian government are holding him at the here-say of the US. There have been no local charges and there is no know reason for Dan to be held in these conditions. If extradited Dan faces 65 years imprisonment at the hands of the US. It’s unfathomable yet this is very real and happening to a man missed terribly by his family, right here in Australia.
Watch the 7.30 Report interview for more information.
Ways you can help:
Sign the petition here.
Donate to help cover the huge mounting legal fees and support Saffrine as she raises their 6 kids solo while Dan is incarcerated.
Write to Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and request Dan’s release mark.dreyfus.mp@aph.gov.au
Write to your local representative to ask for Dan’s release. Search here.
Take a photo of yourself holding a #freedanduggan sign and post it to your socials. Tag @freedanduggannow #freedanduggan
Write to Dan. Solitary confinement would have a profound impact on every one of our mental health. Help Dan’s mental health with a letter that lets him know he’s not forgotten. Daniel Duggan C/O Lithgow Correctional Centra, PO Box 666, Lithgow, NSW 2790
Follow, repost, donate, talk to others….. we all have ways we can help from where we are. No movement of support is too small.
I am making the above quilt for Dan, which I’ll keep you updated on via Instagram @melindakeilyquilts Saffrine has chosen to feature the Duggan tartan and we are working on a design that represents Dan, Saffrine and their 6 kids via the poppies - each representing a family member. We’ll also incorporate pieces of clothing from the family that mean something about Dan to each member. It’s a quilt for Freedom to let Dan know he is not forgotten. It’s our intention that Dan can wrap himself in the love and support of this quilt.
If you would like to be a part of Dan’s Freedom Quilt please see the above post for details.
Find out more about Dan’s freedom campaign:
Free Dan Duggan Campaign website
Emma (left) & Saffrine (right) met at uni in the 90’s.