A group supporting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers called on the Minister for Justice to open dialogue with the Afghan men on hunger strike in Dublin in order to prevent further threat to their lives.
Integrating Ireland, which claims to represent 210 community and voluntary groups, said the serious action taken by the men at St Patrick's Cathedral reflected "desperation felt in their community".
"They fear being deported back to Afghanistan, a country still at war, with a very poor human rights record and currently deemed unsafe by the Department of Foreign Affairs which advises Irish people not to travel there," said Aki Stavrou, director of Integrating Ireland.
The group said it agreed with the Taoiseach that the Government should not "be giving way to threats". But it said the hunger strikers' actions did not constitute a threat but were an appeal by a group of "desperate people". It said the Minister had power to grant temporary leave to remain without compromising the asylum system.
Integrating Ireland called for the reform of the asylum process to ensure it was "fair, comprehensive and expeditious".
The Dublin representative of the UN High Commission for Refugees visited the hunger strikers last night and said their action was "unacceptable". Manuel Dao also said the State's asylum system was "just and fair".