32 Afghans occupied cathedral for protest; 2 people arrested

Police arrested all 34 protesters May 20 to end their weeklong hunger strike inside St. Patrick's Cathedral, an 11th-century landmark and major tourist attraction.

Photo: 32 Afghans occupied cathedral for protest; 2 people arrested

All the protesters had vowed to starve to death rather than be deported back to Afghanistan. The youngest members also warned they would slit their wrists with razors, hang themselves with makeshift ropes or jump from the cathedral's balcony if police moved in, according to the AP.

All 34 had been charged with breaking Ireland's False Entry and Occupation Act and freed on Ђ 250 (US$300) bail each. Eight other protesters aged under 18 were placed into foster homes and faced no charges.

In Kilmainham District Court, lawyers from Ireland's Department of Public Prosecutions said the state had decided not to pursue charges against any of the adult protesters, all men aged 19 to 61. The lawyers offered no explanation for the move.

But Judge James Scally issued arrest warrants for two men who failed to appear in court: Saleem Aseer, 31, and Muhammad Husseini, 25.

The main spokesman for the group, 19-year-old Samander Khan, said outside court that the protest succeeded in publicizing their demands for asylum. Khan said he didn't want to return to his homeland because his father was dead and he couldn't find his mother.