|
Zimbabwean still
fighting for release from UK's detention
20.12.2005- london, A
Zimbabwean lesbian protesting against her detention without trial in a
Bedfordshire asylum centre has ended her 33-day hunger strike.
Thando, an asylum applicant, aged 29,
had been protesting against her six-month incarceration in the notorious
Yarls Wood asylum detention centre near Bedford.
“She is not a criminal. Thando was the
victim of homophobic violence in her native Zimbabwe. She fled to the UK
to escape beatings and arrest because of her sexuality,” said Kizza
Musinguzi, African Affairs spokesperson of the lesbian, gay, bisexual
transgender human rights group, OutRage!, which is backing Thando’s asylum
claim.
“Thando had been made very ill by her
month-long hunger-strike. She was transferred to Bedford Hospital.
“Having won the right to a bail hearing, Thando took the decision to end
her hunger-strike,” Mr Musinguzi said.
“Yarls Wood has been condemned by human
rights campaigners for its repeated abuse of detainee’s rights. “In early
December, human rights campaigners persuaded an independent doctor, Frank
Arnold, to examine Thando in Yarls Wood. He assessed her condition as
very poor.
Dr Arnorld recommended that she be taken
to hospital immediately, in order that she could gradually be reintroduced
to food and receive special nutritional supplements. “Yarls Wood initially
refused to comply,” he revealed. “Eventually, Yarls Wood relented and she
was hospitalised.
“Thando has now received medical
treatment and is slowly recovering. Last week, she was transferred from
hospital back to Yarls Wood. But the asylum detention authorities are
still not following medical advice and giving her the special vitamin
supplements she needs to aid her recovery.
“We are backing Thando’s bail
application and her bid for asylum in the UK. It would be criminal to
return her to the hell-hole that is Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe,” said Mr
Musinguzi.
|
