Dakok Support Centre Visits Asylum Seekers at Deportation Center

By Hawramabad Ni’mat

The Chair and Secretary of Dakok Support Centre visited asylum seekers detained at a deportation center near Heathrow Airport to assess their conditions and provide support.

On Monday, June 4, 2024, a Dakok Support Centre team, led by Chair Saman Jaf and Secretary Kawa Darbandi, visited the deportation facilities near Heathrow, including Colnbrook and Harmondsworth centers.

“Although we remain in daily contact with them by phone and are aware of their situation, we wanted to meet them in person and hear directly about their conditions,” said Saman Jaf.

Dakok Support Centre had formally requested to visit all detained Kurdish asylum seekers but was only permitted access to those who provided their names and identities in advance.

Kawa Darbandi stated:

“We were able to meet three individuals, and through them, we gathered information about the others. We assured them that we will continue to advocate on their behalf and will not hesitate to support them in any way possible.”

According to Saman Jaf, six individuals have been released in recent weeks, and the mass arrest campaign targeting asylum seekers, which began on May 14, appears to have halted.

“Since the start of the arrests, we have been in constant contact with asylum seekers, their lawyers, and their families,” Jaf added.

It is important to note that Dakok Support Centre, in collaboration with the Federation of Refugees, previously organized a large demonstration outside the UK Parliament and 10 Downing Street to oppose the Rwanda deportation policy and the continued detention of asylum seekers in deportation centers.