Asylum Seeker On Hunger Strike

An Afghani asylum seeker in Iceland has had neither food nor water for nearly three days now, and wants the Directorate of Immigration to take his asylum application into consideration rather than deport him.

DV reports that the young man has waited over two years for any kind of answer from the directorate, only to be told that he will be deported.

Having fled Afghanistan four years ago, at the age of 16, he believes his deportation is being based solely on the Dublin Regulation, which gives signatory countries the right to deport asylum seekers to their previous point of departure, although these countries are not obligated to do so. However, Article 19 of said regulation also stipulates that government authorities must provide an answer within a year of the asylum application being submitted.

As reported, three asylum seekers are facing deportation this week, to countries where they fear they will be tortured or possibly executed.