An asylum seeker currently living in a Direct Provision centre in Cork who was on hunger strike has ended up in hospital.
Nadim Hussain, who has lived in Cork for three years, is begging Justice Minister Heather Humphreys to help him stay in Ireland, as he says that as a Muslim man he will be in grave danger if he returns to India, where he says both of his parents were killed in 2018 riots in West Bengal.
The 34-year-old came to Cork from the Asian country and worked in security in a hospital during the pandemic.
"I will not stop my hunger strike until I have been told that I can remain in Ireland because going back to India will be a death sentence for me," Nadim told CorkBeo.
An update from the Abolish Direct Provision Campaign read: "Nadim is receiving prayers after a difficult day with stomach pains and regular vomiting. We tried to stop him in the hunger strike but he is waiting on Minister Heather Humphreys' decision of leave to remain. Sad situation..."
If an asylum seeker in Ireland is not given a refugee or subsidiary protection declaration, the Minister of Justice can still grant them leave to remain in the country.
Nadim told the Irish Examiner: "I am vomiting, my head is spinning, my stomach is spinning. I am feeling that I will die in one or two days.”
On September 22, Nadim received a letter from the Taoiseach's office which assured him that Micheal Martin "is pursuing the issue on your behalf with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service at the Department of Justice," and that he would "soon be in touch with you on the matter".
