Fast in support of detainees

Friends around the country took part in a 'freedom fast' last week

Quakers up and down the country supported people in the Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre last week by joining a ‘freedom fast’.

More than five hundred protestors, including Caroline Lucas MP, the Green Party co-leader, took part in the fast on International Woman’s Day on 8 March to support demands made by the detainees.

The fast came after more than 120 people detained in Yarl’s Wood went on a three-day hunger strike on 21 February. They were protesting the lack of a time limit for detainees and the inhumane conditions.

On 26 February, they escalated to an all-out strike, saying ‘we will cease to participate in detention, we will not eat, use their facilities or work for them.’

Quaker Tim Gee told the Friend: ‘In the spirit of the Sanctuary Everywhere Manifesto and Friends’ long standing work on this, a good number of the people who refused food on Thursday were Quaker members and attenders.’

An unnamed attender from Dundee Meeting House wrote in Red Pepper, before the fast: ‘It will be difficult. But nothing compared to long, drawn-out hunger strikes of the incarcerated women. After a few days, the body begins to cannibalise itself. Long-term hunger strikers risk their health and their lives. But they’re facing down a system of extreme cruelty and dehumanisation which already puts their lives at risk.

Diana Jeater, of Liverpool Meeting, wrote about her experience fasting at 9.30pm: ‘I’m really hungry now… It’s slightly painful. But mostly, it’s nagging… I’m wondering whether I’ve ever been this hungry before… At least I know that I can break my fast tomorrow morning… But the women in Yarl’s Wood only know that tomorrow will be worse.’

Friends also took part in vigils in London, Bristol, Oxford, Glasgow and Leeds and spoke with politicians in support of refugee and migrant women as part of the All Women Count lobby.

They also joined hundreds of people in signing an open letter to the Home Office, headed by Sanctuary Everywhere programme manager Tatiana Garavito, MP Caroline Lucas and journalist Ash Sarkar. 

The letter finished: ‘Whether people in detention centres are on hunger strike or not, we will not be quiet until justice is done. Immigration detention is gender and institutional violence. You can end this injustice. We hope you will.’

The Quaker Faith in Action group reported that many Friends shared messages of solidarity with the detainees.

One Friend wrote: ‘On behalf of Glasgow Local Meeting we, the Sanctuary Everywhere Group, wish to express our solidarity with the detainees who are on hunger strike to gain recognition that their human rights are being violated on several counts.’

Britain is the only country in the EU without a time limit on immigration detention. An immigration bill is expected later in the year.

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