Madam, - I was appalled to read of the so-called Minister for Justice referring to the "so-called hunger strike" in St Patrick's Cathedral (The Irish Times, May 17th). While he may not see this as a serious issue, it seems that the Afghan men who are prepared to starve themselves to death think otherwise.
The sooner Mr McDowell takes this seriously, the sooner the cathedral community and, more importantly, the men on hunger strike can get on with life as they usually know it. - Yours, etc,
JACK KINKEAD, Reginald Street, Dublin, 8.
Madam, - I am working very closely with a young Afghan who fled his homeland because his life was in danger. For the men in St Patrick's Cathedral to seek refuge and go on hunger strike should bring home to everyone the danger they are in. If it was safe for them to go home, they would go home.
You only have to see nightly what is going on in their country. Schools being burnt, girls not allowed to go to school. A female poet beaten to death. A teacher killed for teaching girls. The Taliban are on the rise again. The only place that is relatively safe is the capital. Even president Karzay has to have US bodyguards to protect him.
Everyone has a basic right to life, as well as rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This is denied in Afghanistan, so how can these men be sent back?
I think Mr McDowell is a very honest and fair man, and I hope he will treat these young men with compassion. Of course they must go through the correct channels if possible. - Yours, etc,
MAUREEN PURCELL, Bannons Cross, Co Louth.