Campaign group takes legal action as court rules failed asylum seeker on hunger strike at Harmondsworth must remain in detention despite being close to death
The campaign group Detention Action says its court case against the Home Office over the detention of asylum seekers will be heard in mid-December.
The news came as the group called for urgent action over the detention of Isa Muazu at the Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre.
Muazu has been on hunger strike for over 85 days and is now close to death.
As reported by the Guardian, the High Court yesterday ruled that Muazu, a failed asylum seeker from Nigeria, must remain in custody.
A comment piece in today's Guardian by Ellie Mae O'Hagan quoted the judge in the case as saying: "It is important to appreciate that those who use a hunger strike to manipulate their position will not succeed in doing so provided they have mental capacity."
According to the Guardian, Muazu's lawyers at Deighton Pierce Glynn called the ruling a death sentence and urged the Home Secretary to intervene.
"I call on Theresa May to show clemency and save this man's life," solicitor Sue Willman was quoted as saying.
Muaza last week told the Guardian he was prepared to die rather than return to Nigeria.
"I was afraid, but now I am a skeleton and almost dead. There is so little of me left and I am not afraid. But they – the authorities – have not treated me as a human being," he said.
According to Ellie Mae O'Hagan, Muazu initially stopped eating because Harmondsworth removal centre couldn't accommodate his health problems, and then continued his hunger strike in protest at the inhumane way he and other asylum seekers are treated.