Women being held at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, Bedfordshire are entering their fourth week on hunger strike as concerns grow over their deteriorating health. Around 34 women at the centre have stopped taking in food as a protest over the inhumane and brutalising conditions suffered by those awaiting deportation.

Both campaigners and human rights lawyers have raised the issue over the government’s continued policy of imprisoning people before transporting them back to their country of origin, as well as the treatment suffered by those imprisoned.

As one hunger striker explained:
“The women have been through terrible experiences – some are survivors of rape and torture – but we are treated like criminals. When we staged a protest two weeks ago, we were locked in a corridor, with no water or toilet facilities. One had an asthma attack and we begged the officers to let her out, but they refused. Since then, I have been detained in isolation”

Lawyers representing four women have taken their case to the high court. Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) are applying for a judicial review to assess their claim that Yarl’s Wood breaches articles three, five and eight of the European Convention on Human Rights. Paul Shiner of PIL called the incarceration of the women “disgraceful”.

“It is unlawful and we are calling for the policy to be struck down and for there to be an independent investigation,” he said.

Campaigners, who have been in daily contact with the women, fear retribution and further violence by staff.