Positive outcome for Athlone asylum seeker who was on brief hunger strike

An asylum seeker in Athlone who went on a brief hunger strike last year over lengthy delays in processing her application for refugee status has been granted leave to remain in the country.

Abeer Mohamed, a native of Sudan living at the direct provision centre in Lissywollen, announced last November that she would be refusing food and medication.

She took this step due to her frustration when it emerged that there had been no progress with her application for refugee status during the three years since she arrived in Ireland with her three young children.

"I and my children lost more than three years of our lives. My health is deteriorating, physically and mentally, and this affects my three children too," she said in November.

Just two or three days after she commenced her hunger strike, Abeer was contacted by phone and told that she would be granted refugee status.

She was then awaiting a letter from the Minister, confirming her new status, and was thrilled to receive that letter on Wednesday, March 30.

Abeer's sister, Ehoud, told the Westmeath Independent the family was relieved and delighted that she had been granted the 'Stamp 4' status which means she can remain in Ireland and will be allowed to work here.

On behalf of her sister, Ehoud expressed gratitude to the International Protection Office, and to management at the accommodation centre in Lissywollen, for their help with the case.

"Abeer really appreciates the help that she got from the IPO and from the accommodation centre itself. The manager of the accommodation centre really helped her a lot, and she appreciates all the help that was provided.

"They really did care about her situation."

Ehoud said her sister had been pursuing qualifications in childcare and was looking forward to her future in Ireland.

Prior to arriving in Ireland, Abeer had been living in Saudi Arabia with her husband, a lawyer who got into difficulty with the authorities as a result of his work on human rights.

So far, Abeer has not been able to bring her husband to Ireland to reside with the family but, having secured her own status here, she is starting a process that she hopes will result in his arrival here.

"(Ireland) will be the new home for her and her kids, and hopefully her husband," said Ehoud.