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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Asylum seekers on hunger strike | Asylum seekers on hunger strike |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| About 60 people are taking part in a hunger strike started by 13 Iraqi Kurds at an Oxfordshire immigration centre. | |
| Detainees at Campsfield House, in Kidlington, have said they are taking the action in protest at being forced to return to Iraq. | Detainees at Campsfield House, in Kidlington, have said they are taking the action in protest at being forced to return to Iraq. |
| The Home Office said only "a small number of detainees" were involved and the situation was "under control". | The Home Office said only "a small number of detainees" were involved and the situation was "under control". |
| Campsfield, which holds some 200 asylum seekers and foreign prisoners, has been the subject of a campaign to close it. | Campsfield, which holds some 200 asylum seekers and foreign prisoners, has been the subject of a campaign to close it. |
| 'Refused meals' | 'Refused meals' |
| Fazzel Abdul, one of the detainees, told BBC News that the hunger strike had been started by 13 Kurdish asylum seekers in protest at their continuing detention. | Fazzel Abdul, one of the detainees, told BBC News that the hunger strike had been started by 13 Kurdish asylum seekers in protest at their continuing detention. |
| He said other asylum seekers from around the world had now joined them and about 60 in total were now taking action. | |
| He said: "Kawa, one of the asylum seekers, collapsed earlier today. A doctor was called but Kawa was not treated and is continuing the hunger strike. | He said: "Kawa, one of the asylum seekers, collapsed earlier today. A doctor was called but Kawa was not treated and is continuing the hunger strike. |
| "We are calling to be released from the detention centre and to stop the policy of forcibly deporting Iraqi Kurds." | "We are calling to be released from the detention centre and to stop the policy of forcibly deporting Iraqi Kurds." |
| He said he would be killed if he was sent back to Iraq. | He said he would be killed if he was sent back to Iraq. |
| Gill Baden, from the Campaign to Close Campsfield, said other detainees joined the hunger strike to protest against the conditions at the centre. | Gill Baden, from the Campaign to Close Campsfield, said other detainees joined the hunger strike to protest against the conditions at the centre. |
| She said they had told her they were being " treated like animals", were not told why they were being held there and had not been offered any legal help. | She said they had told her they were being " treated like animals", were not told why they were being held there and had not been offered any legal help. |
| Under review | Under review |
| A spokesperson for the UK Border Agency said: "A small number of detainees at Campsfield have refused their meals in recent days. | A spokesperson for the UK Border Agency said: "A small number of detainees at Campsfield have refused their meals in recent days. |
| "The situation is under control and the matter is under review. | "The situation is under control and the matter is under review. |
| "But we have got our priorities straight. In 2007 we deported the highest ever number of foreign lawbreakers, up by a huge 80% and we are committed to removing those who have no legal basis to stay in the UK." | "But we have got our priorities straight. In 2007 we deported the highest ever number of foreign lawbreakers, up by a huge 80% and we are committed to removing those who have no legal basis to stay in the UK." |
| Since it opened in 1993, the centre has seen a number of disturbances including escapes, a rooftop protest, more hunger strikes and a campaign to have it shut. | Since it opened in 1993, the centre has seen a number of disturbances including escapes, a rooftop protest, more hunger strikes and a campaign to have it shut. |
| The centre has been the subject of a long campaign demanding its closure. | The centre has been the subject of a long campaign demanding its closure. |
| In June, seven detainees escaped in an overnight break-out. Four were later recaptured but three remain missing. | In June, seven detainees escaped in an overnight break-out. Four were later recaptured but three remain missing. |
| In December 2007, more than 120 detainees had to be moved to other centres after a disturbance, which was quelled by riot police. | In December 2007, more than 120 detainees had to be moved to other centres after a disturbance, which was quelled by riot police. |
| It had broken out in one of three blocks on the site when officers tried to move a detainee ready for deportation. | It had broken out in one of three blocks on the site when officers tried to move a detainee ready for deportation. |