Afghan asylum seekers’ hunger strike enters fifth day

The hunger strike by 41 Afghan asylum seekers who fear they will be deported to their home country has entered its fifth day at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

The men are refusing to eat or leave the cathedral until Justice Minister Michael McDowell allows them to stay in Ireland.

They say they have not received a fair hearing from the Irish immigration system and fear they will be deported to Afghanistan, where they say they are at risk of torture and death.

However, speaking in the Dáil last night, Mr McDowell reiterated that he would not be meeting the protestors' demands.

The Irish representatives of the UN High Commission for Refugees also criticised the men's action after visiting them in the cathedral last night.

Manuel Dao said the Irish asylum system was "just and fair" and he rejected suggestions that it was operating blanket refusals of Afghan claims for refugee status.