On July 14, the British Home Office announced that it was suspending the deportation of Zimbabwean asylum seekers pending the outcome of an August 4 High Court test case. Earlier on July 14, in another test case, an asylum seeker applied to the High Court for an injunction to prevent all deportations until August 4. The asylum seeker also applied for an order requiring the Home Secretary to notify all failed asylum seekers of their right to apply for judicial review. The 195 Zimbabweans detained awaiting deportation in Britain have no automatic legal representation. On July 11, a hunger strike by at least 37 detained Zimbabweans ended, pending the August 4 judgement. On July 9, hunger striker Timbha Mqhubele was taken to hospital to be fed through a drip tube. Despite his doctor’s insistence that Mqhubele, who weighed less than six stone, was unable to stand unaided, he was handcuffed for the journey and while in hospital until his local MP intervened. While the Home Office does not keep track of those deported, it continues to deny refugee groups claims that some of the deportees have been persecuted upon return.

From Green Left Weekly, July 27, 2005.
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