Czech Republic: Assembly announced in Prague in support of hunger-striking foreign detainees

Evangelical clergyman Mikuláš Vymětal, who is working with foreign nationals protesting their detention in the Czech Republic by going on hunger strike, has informed the media of new developments in their situation:  "The foreign nationals who are continuing their hunger strike to protest their detention in the facility at Drahonice were told by police officers at around 7 AM today that they should prepare to leave the facility. They were not told where they will be going. Yesterday evening police instructed them to take down signs the detainees had posted in the rooms where they are locked up that read ‘Freedom’ and ‘We Are Not Terrorists’. The leadership of the detention center ultimately abandoned the idea of removing them because he concluded after interviewing them that they are peaceful. Today at 16:00 there will be an assembly in Prague at Klárov in the park near the Malostranská metro station to support the hunger strikers."

That location in Prague is midway between the Czech Parliament and the Office of the Czech Government. Vymětal also released a new declaration from the detainees who are on hunger strike.

"We are aware that Czech laws make it possible to imprison us for a long time and we accept that," the statement reads. "However, through our hunger strike we want to contribute in a peaceful way to our being released, even though we do not know how that might be possible. We are continuing the hunger strike. Signed, spokespersons for the hunger strike Razad Fazal and Yasin Beelhaadj."

The situation at the refugee facility in Drahonice (Louny district) escalated on Tuesday evening. Police reported several asylum-seekers had injured themselves.