An asylum seeker from India has ended his hunger strike to grant permission to continue staying in Ireland. Indian man Nadim Hussain who is a native of West Bengal started his hunger strike nine days ago after his appeal to continue his stay in Ireland was rejected by International Protection Officer (IPO). Mr. Nadim reached Ireland in January 2019 and has been staying in Cork under Direct Provision.
According to a report by the Irish Examiner, Mr. Hussain said he fears for his life if he was to be deported to his home country of India. He said that both of his parents were killed in riots in West Bengal in 2018 before he came to Ireland.
“I have given all the evidence I can to the International Protection Officer (IPO) but they refused me. If I go back to India I will be killed.” Nadim told BreakingNews.ie last week.
His strike came to an end on Friday after his legal team got assurances from the Department of Justice that he would not be deported. Nadim had been shifted to Cork University Hospital due to health issues from the strike but had vowed that he would continue fighting from the hospital bed.
“My stomach is in pain, I am very weak, my head is spinning, but I am prepared to keep going until I die, unless I get my papers,” Nadim said.
Permission to remain can be granted to people who have been refused a refuge or subsidiary protection declaration but who are not returned home for humanitarian or other compelling reasons.