Statement of coordinating committee of the striking asylum seekers, 5th of September 2012
Arash Dust Hossein, one of the first striking refugees, has been arrested by the Würzburg police on Wednesday 05.09.2012. Arash has been protesting on the street since March 19th, including long periods on hunger strike. Now he is being accused of breaking the “Residenzpflicht” law (restriction of movement ). While Arash has technically been breaking this law since March 2012, there is reason to believe his arrest, shortly before the refugees march begins, is in fact an attempt by the authorities to hinder the protest. For the time being, Arash has been transferred to the police station on Augusting street in Würzburg.The coordinating committee of the Striking Asylum Seekers in Germany is announcing that they do not acknowledge the Residenzpflicht law, and call to abolish it. The committee will fight till the end, side by side with our striking comrade Arash. The shameful arrest of Arash Dust Hossein proves nothing but the continuing persecution of asylum seekers by the authorities; therefore the coordinating committee announces that from now on, all Striking Asylum Seekers are going on hunger strike, demanding the immediate release of Arash Hossein Dust.