Politics: Sanctuary? We'll See

Politics

The Guarda (Ireland's police force) has ended the hunger strike by Afghan asylum seekers today by entering St. Patrick's Cathedral and removing them. The strikers surrendered themselves without a struggle and some of them were taken to hospital while the remaining adults were arrested.



The Church of Ireland was ordered by the Department of Justice to end negotiations with the hunger strikers and to leave the situation in the hands of the government authorities. The churchmen quickly and quietly washed their hands and wandered off to pray for all involved ...after announcing to the press that they were going to do so.



The "laws of sanctuary" are a myth. Although throughout history there have been such laws from Byzantium to Britain, these laws were always written, and governed, by the state.

Today there are no such "laws" in existence anywhere, and where and when they did exist in history, there were two options open to those who were claiming sanctuary: First they would have 40 days to decide whether to leave the church and face a secular court for whatever crime they were fleeing from, or confess their guilt and accept exile. But, as I said, those laws no longer exist. If sanctuary is to be found anywhere, it is solely in the hearts and minds of human beings, both secular and clergical.




This is the Irish Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, who apparently exercises his post with a will of iron and a head to match. The fate of the asylum seekers rests largely with this man now....








or it could quite possibly rest with these