Cork asylum seeker hospitalised on 9th day of hunger strike

Nadim Hussain, the Cork-based asylum seeker who has been on hunger strike to be allowed to remain in Ireland, was hospitalised last night.

Mr Hussain has been on hunger strike for nine days now, after his application to be granted refugee status in Ireland was refused last month.

An ambulance was called late last night and removed Mr Hussain from the Kinsale Road direct provision centre to Cork University Hospital, where he is receiving treatment but still refusing food. He is in an extremely weak condition, and tests are being done to revive his kidneys and pancreas which is inflamed, according to the Abolish Direct Provision Campaign Twitter account.

Hunger Strike Day 9 at 11:30am 22nd Oct
Nadim is receiving treatment at Cork University Hospital. He still not taking food. Please contact your local TD to make representation for him to Minister Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) soon. pic.twitter.com/VZb3E5XgTF

— Abolish Direct Provision Campaign (@AbolishDirect) October 22, 2021

Mr Hussain arrived in Ireland from India in 2018, seeking asylum after his parents were killed during anti-Muslim riots in West Bengal earlier that year. The 34 year old, who is Muslim, says his life will be in danger if he is returned to Bengal. He has been living in the Kinsale Road direct provision centre in Cork, and had worked during the pandemic as a security guard in a Cork hospital.

In September this year, he received a letter from the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, which affirmed a recommendation from an international protection officer (so called) stating that he should be refused both a refugee declaration and a subsidiary protection declaration, under Section 46 (3) a of the 2015 International Protection Act.

After writing to the office of the Taoiseach, he received an email, which he has shared with Hot Press, on September 22nd, which read that "the Taoiseach is pursuing the issue on (Mr. Hussain's) behalf with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service." He has had no communication as to his status since.

In response to a request for comment by Hot Press, the Department of Justice had this to say:

"While the Department does not comment on individual immigration cases, each application for international protection is examined in detail on its individual merits, taking all factors into account. The permission to remain process includes a full consideration of their private and family rights in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights as well as consideration of their work situation, among other issues.

"For those who are in the international protection process, our objective is to have decisions made on their applications and permission to remain considerations as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of our protection can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. For those found not to be in need of international protection, a full consideration of all aspects of their case, under the process outlined above, is considered before a Deportation Order is made."