Thread by @bencsmoke

cw: suicide

last night, 8 people being detained in brooke house detention centre attempted suicide. 3 of them have been taken to hospital, 5 were treated there. all of them are yemeni nationals who recently arrived via the channel+ are seeking asylum. all are on hunger strike...

to protest their imminent deportation (today or tomorrow) to spain or germany. there are 22 people currently on hunger strike.

all face deportation under 'dublin regulations' and face onward deportation to countries like iraq, yemen and sudan.

at least one person has received removal instructions to germany- where their application for asylum has already been rejected by the german high court.

there are 3 brothers who's application has been denied + who face deportation but who's dad has an outstanding asylum claim

"We are Yeminis+ were detained here in Brook House. Our country is going through a war. We left Yemen to escape persecution+ war+ to avoid death+ to come to a country that is safe, where we can live safely+ healthily without fear of persecution." - one of the hunger strikers.

those inside have complained of lack of access to healthcare and of abuse and taunts from the guards. yemeni campaigners outside have said: "The Yemeni community in Sheffield is appalled by the treatment of Yemeni refugees in the UK fleeing war and famine...

..This is an opportunity for politicians on all sides to demonstrate their commitment to our shared humanity and shared compassion for those most vulnerable in our Society."

those inside have previously spoken about the traumatic journey to the uk. they have spoken of being misled by smugglers, of being taken to spain instead of the UK. of the abuse they relieved in spain+ being left destitute and homeless before making the journey here.

on sunday one of those inside brooke house spoke over the phone to a demo outside the home office. he said "we just came via boat, we put our lives on the line...people here are dying. there is no healthcare. people are suffering. we are normal people, we just want a normal life"

brooke house is a notorious detention centre with a 2018 panorama investigation exposing widespread abuse of detainees by G4S guards.

UK weapons exports to saudi arabia were suspended last year by the high court after it found they were being used in yemen to commit human rights atrocities.

the UK government resumed arms sales to SA this year.

there is a petition to #canceltheflights by @sdetsup which you can sign here (pls share this far and wide).

https://twitter.com/sdetsup/status/1298531318263877632?s=20

also keep an eye on @detainedvoices for statements from those on the inside.

contact your MP, share the petition, share the DV statements, make as much noise as possible. we have to stop these flights.