More Unjustifiable Deporation

"Victims of the Taliban"

"Don't send us back to a War Zone!"

"If we go back, we will die"

These were just some of the slogans printed on the white signs being held aloft by a large group of Afghan men who gathered early yesterday afternoon outside the Dail. They were there to protest against their deportation back to Afghanistan, where many of them can quite reasonably fear persecution or death.

Some have been here for up to three years. Most of them have already had their appeals turned down.

It was freezing cold on Kildare st. One of the Residents against Racism members held a small amplifier up so that we could hear what the speakers were saying above the noise of the traffic. Residents against Racism helped organize the protest and their representative called for the responsiblity for granting asylum to be transfered from the Department of Justice to the Human Right's commission. Other supporters were also present and spoke, among them a small group of TDs, including Joe Higgins (socialist), Ciaran Cuffe (greens), Joe Costelloe(labour) and Finian McGrath (representing some of the independents).

Sultan Kabirchakari, wearing dark glasses, spoke to us with the aid of a translator. He was blinded in an assasination attempt on him in Afghanistan.

He described how the men being deported had fled Afghanistan to escape persecution from the Taliban and only asked to be allowed to stay here in Ireland and work.

He thanked the Irish people for their hospitality and told of how they wanted to integrate and contribute to the country.

Like the other speakers before him, he said that Afghanistan is a country controlled by warlords and it is not a safe or democratic place to return to.

After the protest they marched to the Department of Justice to hand in a letter asking for their cases to be re-examined.