Hunger strike to continue into the weekend

A group of Iraqi asylum seekers, who have been on hunger strike since Thursday, has been called to a meeting with the minister of immigration on Monday.

The invitation came on the second day of the action by 30 asylum seekers in Luxembourg City's Place Clairefontaine.

Nicolas Schmit called for the meeting at 3pm after the protestors, some of which have been waiting for more than 18 months for a response to their asylum applications, took to the streets in a bid to speed up the process.

In an email to group leader Wilson Mikail, Mr Schmit's office requested that the protestors end their action immediately.

Wilson, an Iraqi Christian who came to Luxembourg with his wife and step-daughter 14 months ago, remained adamant that he would not stop.

He told wort.lu/en: “I have been called to a meeting on Monday to represent all the 30 people taking part in this hunger strike. We were asked to stop the action but I said no. I will continue until I receive a written solution or decision from the minister. If we are not entitled to have political asylum in this country then they can send us somewhere else. We just want a decision.”

In what was the second day of protests, demonstrators sought shelter from the blazing hot sun in shaded corners around the square. Some lay asleep on makeshift beds made from cardboard boxes. Children played football in the square and inquisitive tourists took photographs.

A group of good samaritans had delivered food, drink and blankets to provide some comfort for the group, which has already spent one night sleeping in the square. One anonymous well-wisher had also spent the night with the group to ensure their safety.

According to Wilson, police were patrolling the square every two hours but the group had not been asked to leave.

With the weather forecast to turn wet this weekend, anonymous donors plan to provide a number of tents offering shelter from the elements.

The hunger strike has already attracted criticism from a number of groups, including migrant workers group ASTI and the charity Caritas Luxembourg.

In a press statement released on Friday, Caritas said it understood the group's exasperation at being made to wait for a decision on their asylum applications.

But, it did not condone the use of a hunger strike to change this, suggesting that dialogue was the best way to find a solution.

So far only leftwing party Déi Lénk has declared solidarity with the protest. It said in a press release: “They (the Iraqi asylum seekers ) are asking for nothing more than a stable situation in a safe country.”