Asylum Seekers Protest Controversial Removal Policy with Hunger Strike
Thirty individuals seeking asylum in Britain have initiated a hunger strike in protest against their planned removal to France under the Home Office's contentious "one in, one out" scheme. The protest began on Monday, with many participants facing forced removal this Thursday.
The Removal Scheme and Its Impact
More than one hundred asylum seekers have already been forcibly returned to France under this arrangement, which sees a smaller number brought to the UK through legal channels in exchange. The policy aims to deter Channel crossings in small boats, though its effectiveness remains questionable.
Two of those previously removed to France have since managed to return to UK shores via small boat crossings. One Iranian man was subsequently returned to France for a second time, while an Eritrean national currently remains in detention and faces removal to France on Thursday.
Voices from the Hunger Strike
One participant expressed their frustration to The Guardian, stating: "I am exhausted by this situation and find it deeply unfair and unjust. I arrived on a boat with 83 other people, and only 12 of us were moved to a detention centre."
The protester highlighted the inconsistency in treatment, noting that while they remain detained alongside individuals who may have criminal convictions, others from their crossing are being processed through the normal asylum system and housed in hotels.
Another hunger striker described their experience as living in limbo, saying: "Life has completely stopped for me since I was detained. It feels like living in limbo, with the constant fear of being sent back to places that are unsafe for me, such as France or my home country."
A third participant explained their decision to join the protest: "We decided to go on hunger strike because we have been treated like criminals. We have a reason why we came to this country: to be protected. We have not done anything against society or to anyone."
Charity Support and Legal Concerns
Charlotte Buckley, director of Bail for Immigration Detainees, voiced support for the hunger strikers. "We join those on hunger strike in calling for their right to claim asylum in the UK, which is protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention," she stated.
Buckley expressed serious concerns about access to legal representation, noting that recent reports show the lowest levels of legal advice available in detention since records began. The charity has urged the Home Office to listen to the protesters' demands and ensure their safety during the hunger strike.
The hunger strike represents a dramatic escalation in protest against the UK government's immigration policies, particularly the "one in, one out" scheme that has seen significant numbers returned to France despite ongoing concerns about the safety and appropriateness of such removals.
