Hunger striker rushed to hospital

An Indian asylum seeker in Cork who is now in his ninth day of hunger strike has been rushed to hospital by ambulance.

Nadim Hussain’s health is deteriorating rapidly and doctors at CUH are concerned that his organs are beginning to fail.

He is currently undergoing tests to determine the full extent of his condition, with initial tests suggesting that he may have pancreatitis.

Mr Hussain began his hunger strike last Thursday in a last gasp attempt to be allowed to remain in the country after the International Protection Appeal Tribunal (IPAT) rejected his appeal to be recognised as a refugee.

Mr Hussain, who is of Muslim background, has been in Direct Provision in Cork for three years.

The 35 year old lost both of his parents to anti-Muslim violence in his home country in 2018 and says he fears for his life if he were to be deported back to India.

Mr Hussain told the Cork Independent this morning that he is still refusing food and has been connected to machinery at the hospital. He said he is taking water and will not take any food until he is granted leave to remain in Ireland.

He said there is still no response from Government.

In an email seen by the Cork Independent, Mr Hussain was told by the Taoiseach’s Office on 22 September that the Taoiseach is pursuing the issue on his behalf with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) at the Department of Justice.

He is yet to hear back from the Taoiseach’s office and is now pleading with the Department of Justice and Minister Heather Humphries to answer his call and save him from deportation.

“They are wasting their time and they're wasting my life also. If you go to the Minister of Justice and ask her, you know what she will say? ‘We don't comment on any individual cases.’. That is not an answer,” said Mr Hussain. He added: “The only answer that I want, the only one, but nobody is giving to me, is why is the Minister for Justice is not giving answers after two months? Is she not human? Is this a democratic country? Is this a human rights country?” Mr Hussain told the Cork Independent on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of Mr Hussain in the Dáil on Tuesday night, Solidarity TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry said anyone familiar with the question of anti-Muslim violence in India these days and the role of the State under Narendra Modi’s government, would not be surprised by the fact that police in the country would not provide Mr Hussain with the documentation he needs.

“Someone who is knowledgeable of the situation would say that Nadim is being asked to clear an impossible hurdle,” said the Deputy.

Mr Hussain has provided extensive documentation and proof of his background and the nature of his parents’ death, however, he has been unable to provide written documentation from police in his country.