A Nauru court has ruled against asylum seekers who claimed they were being unlawfully detained at Australia's processing centre on the island.
Judge John von Doussa dismissed the asylum seekers' application for habeas corpus on the grounds they are being held for the purpose of processing their claims for refugee status.
The judge cited the Immigration Act and Nauru's constitution.
Judge von Doussa said it was well recognised the process of investigating and determining claims for refugee status may take a protracted time.
But he said at the end removal will occur either to another country for resettlement, or to their country of nationality.
The asylum seekers argued there had been a long and unreasonable delay in processing their claims but the judge said he did not think it amounted yet to an excessive delay.
