Instead he recently marked his fourth year in mandatory detention, despite being ruled a genuine refugee almost three years ago.

It was April 8, 2010, and the Afghan man – believed to be a member of the persecuted Hazara ethnic minority – arrived in Australia on board Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel 129 Keperra.

That day he was transferred to Christmas Island's main detention centre. From that day, his living nightmare began.

He remains locked up in a detention centre in Melbourne's north despite being classified as a refugee and deemed to need Australia's protection since July 2011.

Questions about his identity appear to have long been resolved. In April 2012 the Australian Federal Police finally abandoned its lingering suspicions that Mr Zulfiqar was a "person of interest'' in people smuggling activities but ASIO is still conducting its painstaking security clearances, which were initiated in 2011.

Psychiatrists warn that his continued incarceration is destroying his mental health, possibly irreparably.

A psychiatrist report recommended last year that Mr Zulfiqar be released into community detention "based on the view that long-term detention in a restrictive environment was a causal factor in the deterioration of Mr Zulfiqar's mental health and concern for possible long-term irreparable damage''.

Mr Zulfiqar has cut himself with a razor blade, and has been caught fashioning a noose from his bedsheets and drawing a picture of a noose.

As his mental health deteriorated, Mr Zulfiqar has suffered anxiety-related chest pains and has had frequent nightmares "related to traumatic events in the past''. He has been diagnosed with depression, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has been medicated and placed on intermittent suicide watch.

Despite pleas by a psychiatrist from the International Health and Medical Services to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Commonwealth Ombudsman for Mr Zulfiqar to be released into the less-harmful community detention, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has not moved on the case.

Mr Morrison has said: "The individual remains in held immigration detention pending the outcome of his security assessment."

Mr Zulfiqar's case was reviewed by the Ombudsman, Colin Neave, a year ago – the first independent review of Mr Zulfiqar's lengthy detention.

Mr Neave's four-page report is the first glimpse into the life of a man who has become lost in Australia's detention system, despite authorities recognising he is in need of protection.

Mr Zulfiqar's case appears to have been delayed by a series of investigations into his identity and the perceived risk he might pose to the community.

ASIO has not provided the Ombudsman's office with a timeline for resolving Mr Zulfiqar's case.