Novak Djokovic was ordered to be isolated in refugee detention until Monday’s court ruling on his expulsion.
The Park Hotel in Melbourne is known as an ‘Alternative Place of Detention’ by the Australian government and will house the world No. After his visa application was rejected by the border force, he joined other asylum seekers.
After recent reports about Covid outbreaks, fires, and maggot-ridden food, the hotel is the focal point of protests regarding the treatment of refugees.

Novak Djokovic is staying in the Park Hotel in Melbourne which is known as an ‘Alternative Place of Detention’ by the Australian government

Djokovic was ordered to remain in refugee detention until the court decides on his deportation Monday morning

Following recent fires, Covid outbreaks, and other reports of food poisoning, protesters have focused their attention on the hotel.
There are 32 refugees and asylum seekers currently held there, after they were brought from overseas detention centers.
Staff are allowed to enter and exit the hotel, but detainees can’t leave.
The website states that amenities include a fitness area, but not a tennis court.
The hotel has been in use as a government detention facility since December 2020. Staff and visitors previously called it an “incubator” for Covid.
Anti-vaxx Djokovic has not revealed how many Covid jabs, if any. He will remain inside his bedroom where windows are closed and the air conditioning circulates.
The Delta strain was detected in nearly 50% of the guests at the hotel, and one patient was admitted to hospital via ambulance.

There are currently 32 asylum seekers and refugees being held in the facility. Some even wave to Djokovic fanatics from their windows (pictured).

Nearly half the people being held at the hotel were tested positive for the Delta strain in October. One man was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Since December 2020, it has been used by the government as a detention hotel. Staff and guests have previously criticised it for being an incubator for Covid.
If you are a refugee, it is possible to use a shared kitchen and lift for travel between floors.
Sources told The Guardian that people who are positive for HIV are transferred to the top floor, but it can take days.
Salah Mustafa said that he was being held in the hotel. Everyone is afraid.
“Today I’m negative. My son is negative.” Tomorrow, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow… What then? There is always infection.
“We are stuck here. We’re stuck here, in our rooms. [for]It is the next virus.
Martin Foley, Victoria’s Health Minister said that he was concerned about the conditions in the hotel. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (Melbourne) described the recent outbreak as an “avoidable catastrophe”.

Activists call for the release from the park prison of refugees and the hotel is regularly the scene of protests

In the meantime, supporters assemble outside Park Hotel.

In the parking lot of a Melbourne Hotel, workers are wearing PPE and this van may be containing tennis star Djokovic
Last month guests expressed concern about the food provided to detainees that contained mold and maggots.
Salah said to SBS News, “I was shocked.” People are in danger because of the food they have been serving.
“Even animals cannot eat such food.”
One asylum seeker stated that he felt sick after eating at the hotel’s food.
There were fears that prisoners might have been held inside the smoke-filled structure two days prior to Christmas.
According to a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson, one of the fires started in a bedroom.

Novak Djokovic (pictured at Melbourne’s border force following his Wednesday landing) will need to be in isolation in a refugee hotel until Monday. This is after the court granted his application to remain in the country.


Djokovic supporters arrived at Park Hotel decked in Serbian flags, and carrying homemade anti-vaxx placards
Witnesses on the spot reported that none of those detained at the hotel were evacuated and allowed to go outside.
The man, who claimed to be the detainee inside the building, took to Twitter to protest the confinement of the group in the smoke-filled structure.
Mehdi Allei posted, “Some people can’t breath and they hold us in the first floors of the hotel where there is no fresh air,”
“Everything is chaotic, and it’s difficult to breathe.”
Activists are calling for refugees to be released from the “park prison” and protests at the hotel have regularly taken place.
After Djokovic arrived, those who stepped up have been replaced by protestors. Instead of these, supporters wearing Serbian flags have descend on the Melbourne hotel.

To support the prisoner tennis player, some Serbian fans gathered at the refugee detention facility to cheer him on.
Djokovic was placed under arrest and ordered to continue there until Monday. A court will then decide whether or not he may stay in Australia to play for the Open.
The Serb, who was detained at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport overnight, had been denied entry after initially saying he had been granted a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open.
The 34-year-old announced on Tuesday he had been given the exemption, given on face value, by two independent medical panels organised by Tennis Australia and Victoria state, which he expected would shield him from the country’s strict vaccine rules.
The border force denied the exception to the Serb’s entry and declared his visa invalid.
He received a notice stating that his visa had been declined and that he was being deported in the midst of the conflict between the Australian and Victoria governments.