Asylum seeker's hunger strike ends after week

AN Iranian seeking asylum in Yorkshire has ended his seven-day hunger strike which began in protest at the way his asylum case has been handled.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Aug 2010, 21:45 BST

Updated 6th Aug 2010, 21:45 BST

Rahham Nazary was close to losing consciousness after seven days without food or water but yesterday began taking water in hospital.

He was told yesterday that his claim for asylum had been rejected.

The 23-year-old, of Berry Brow in Huddersfield, came to the UK in 2005 in fear of his life. His original asylum application was refused in November of that year and he had several subsequent appeals rejected.

He flew to Switzerland in December 2008, on a fake Belgian passport, but was arrested, returned to the UK and jailed for 12 months for possessing false documents.

He was released after serving half the sentence in June last year, but fitted with a security tag. After becoming a Christian, he applied for asylum on the grounds of religious persecution if he returned to Iran.