In Belgium, 71 asylum seekers protesting at the a Brussels refugee center were brought the hospital for medical care after it was decided that they are endangering their lives. Some of the protesters had been hunger-striking for 35 days. The refugees will be returned to the refugee center on condition that they don't resume their strike.
In Oslo, a new hunger strike had just started.
More than 20 young would-be refugees from Afghanistan now fear that Oslo police will take steps to end a hunger strike they began over the weekend.
The 23 Afghans launched their hunger strike on Friday. Since then, they've been sitting or lying in a tent set up outside the Oslo Cathedral in the heart of downtown.
They're protesting the final rejection of their appeals for asylum in Norway. Huddled under blankets to ward off the spring chill, they say they're refusing food and drink until Norwegian immigration authorities change their minds and let them stay in the country.
That appears unlikely. Their applications for asylum didn't meet criteria, and all 23 were ordered to leave the country.
All were offered transportation home and some so-called "start capital" to ease resettlement back in Afghanistan. Only three others accepted.
Now the hunger strikers fear the police, who so far have left them in peace, will intervene and forcibly escort them out of Norway.
Meanwhile, new figures from the Norwegian Immigration Service show that 64% of asylum seekers will be approved this year, as compared to 45% last year.
Sources: Aftenposten (English), De Standaard (Dutch)
Update May 31st, 2006:
Now the hunger strikers fear the police, who so far have left them in peace, will intervene and forcibly escort them out of Norway. Their numbers grew to 39 in three tents on Tuesday, and worried church officials in the adjacent cathedral said they were standing by to help if needed.
Source: Aftenposten (English)
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