Shackled in the land of freedom

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, AUG. 5. If it were to happen in a ``non-liberal'' and ``undemocratic'' Third World country, the furies would have been after it and probably threatening it with sanctions for abuse of human rights but when it happens in the heart of liberal Western democracy, it is only a Sunday newspaper story.

Hundreds of innocent asylum seekers are languishing in British jails without charge, and denied ``even basic privileges granted to convicted prisoners'', The Independent on Sunday has reported. Some of them are being held in top security prisons meant for dangerous offenders on the palpably specious plea that the refugee detention centres are full. More than 1,000 refugees are said to be serving unofficial jail sentences while their application for asylum is decided.

``Often locked up 23 hours a day, they are forced to wear prison uniform, share cells with some of Britain's most hardened criminals (and)... access to solicitors is restricted'', the paper disclosed in a front-page investigation of the reception that awaits uninvited guests in a civilised society.

A group of asylum seekers is currently on a hunger strike in a prison in Liverpool, and there have been demonstrations and protests in other jails against their ``inhuman and degrading'' treatment which include ``verbal and physical intimidation''. Those who can't speak English are called by humiliating nicknames such as ``Kunta Kinte'', the name of a black slave in the book ``Roots'', and there is constant pressure to agree to deportation back to their countries. ``The whole system has been designed to strip immigration detainees of humanity'', according to Mr. Gabriel Nkwelle, a refugee from Cameroon, who spent nine months in four different prisons. His nightmare began shortly after he landed at Heathrow airport last May, fleeing persecution in his own country. After staying in a hotel for a few weeks he went to a police station to apply for asylum and was promptly ``bundled'' into a jail van. ``They stripped me naked and took me with another chap who was a drunk driver'', he told paper. He was held in solitary confinement for protesting over prison conditions and suffered repeated humiliation.

A journalist from Cameroon, Mr. Michael Ngaleu, who was kept with convicted criminals and has since been given asylum, had a similar story to tell. Another African refugee, Mr. Ntando Ncube, attempted suicide and was released after he wrote to the Home Office. Inevitably, many have been forced to revise their opinion about a country they thought was a land of liberty and tolerance. ``It's against human rights in a country that is seen abroad as a place of freedom and justice'', Mr. Ngaleu said.

Most of the refugees are from African countries and claim to be fleeing political persecution. Critics argue that even if their claim is untrue, there is no justification for throwing them into jail. ``Most of them escaped from their countries of origin because their lives were under threat and they are being treated as convicted prisoners'', one MP said. Several civil rights groups working with refugees have protested and demanded that detainees should be allowed to seek bail. It is pointed out that while 95 per cent of the people facing criminal charges get bail, only five per cent of the asylum seekers are granted this ``privilege''. The Immigration Advisory Service has warned of serious psychological effect and a medical expert said: ``Just the fact that they are being detained with no idea why - or when they will be released can cause major depression or post- traumatic stress.''

Critics spoke bitterly of the ``double standards'' which Western countries and international civil liberties organisations apply while judging human rights abuse. A Home Office Minister was quoted as saying that the Government intended to get all the detainees out of prison by the end of the year.

The scandal comes in the wake of a controversy over the handling of Czech gypsies travelling to Britain. The Czech Government, faced with outrage from its own citizens, has officially protested.

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Section  : International
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