We are still unsure of Tariq's condition. We urge all concerned individuals and organisations to contact the Home Office and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre and ask for clarification of his condition and furthermore put pressure on them to end to the barbaric practice of detention and deportation of refugees.
- Serco (For Colnbrook), Press Office: 01344 386 300
- Home Office Press Office: 020 7035 3535
voice_refugee_forum@dalitstan.org
- Serco (For Colnbrook), Press Office: 01344 386 300
- Home Office Press Office: 020 7035 3535
voice_refugee_forum@dalitstan.org
Colnbrook's despair - able young men driven to suicide
Mr.Tariq Rashid, Colnbrook,c-wing,ground floor room 2. Has been in immigration detention for 19 months,and 2 weeks. He had begged for an asylum that was refused, and has remained in detention since he has applied for bail, and has gone for bail hearings 4 times,but he was refused them all.
He then begged to be sent back to Iraq and has filled voluntary return forms 10 times, but the home office reply was that his country was too dangerous to remove him to.
So he was abandoned in detention,and after receiving yet another monthly report telling him "your case has been reviewed and it has been decided that you remain in detention till......" he sank into a deep depression and yesterday 11th May 2006 at 8:45.p.m, after looking at his family's pictures, he went to the office collected a shaving razor, broke the stem and extracted the razor, and was cutting himself when his friend walked in. his friend managed to prevent him from completing the cut across his neck,but not before he had opened a 6 inch gash from the left side of his neck down to his breast bone.
He bled so much the officers had to spread plastic bags on the ground to prevent permanent damage to the carpet.this happened in full view of detainees. the nurses were called and he was quickly strechered out and taken to hospital outside. Mr.L who has also been in detention for 2 years,broke down crying.
The aftermath
This morning,at 8:30am an as yet unidentified Jamaican tried to jump from the second floor, but the alarm was raised by other detainees who managed to restrain him till the officers arrived. he has been placed on a "level 3, Suicide Watch".
Fifteen Minutes Later: Mr.****** (c-wing,first floor room 4) from IRAN, was found by his room mate hanging from the door handle, by his own bedsheet. he had
earlier tried to cut his throat with a razor,but his room mate had reported to the officers, but instead of counselling, he was locked up in solitary confinement, that further aggravated his psychological condition, and led to this second more determined attempt.
How many more deaths or attempts must the detainees see. The tension and anger in the whole center is palpable at the moment, inmates have witnessed three suicide attempts in 12 hours,and they have become desperate.
In retrospect to what happened on Sunday lunchtime, it is only a matter of time before the inmates that are not strong enough to commit suicide now summon up courage, or find other means to vent their simmering anger and desperation.
Last night alone the whole wing especially those currently on hungerstrikes were subject to a half hourly "suicide prevention check".
This is a sorry situation of able young men, driven to desperation and suicide, a proof of Colnbrook's despair.
Anon,
Colnbrook detainee
(Name and email address have been withheld)
Iraqi man attempts commits suicide at Colnbrook Detention centre
Hunger Strike Update - 11th May 2006
Last night, at 18:00 on 10/05/06, on C-Wing, Tareq Rashid from Iraq made serious attempt to self-harm removed plastic from shaving stick and cut his throat, stomach and chest. He has been taken to Hospital (we think it is Hillingdon Hospital). This occured after he was severely beaten by 8 security officers who have been also beating the hunger strikers. These include: Jenny Halliday - the General Manager, Stuart Martin and Craig Holker (a particularly viscious officer who takes pleasure in verbally abusing and punching and beating detainees including Romeo Dzamba who is on hunger strike)
Around 20 police officers went to Colnbrook and interviewed the Centre Manager Craig Thompson, as this is the second known suicide attempt in as many weeks, (a young Afghanistani man on D-Wing attempted suicide on Thursday 2nd May and all detainees were locked in their rooms).
We are still unsure of Tariq's condition. We urge all concerned individuals and organisations to contact the Home Office and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre and ask for clarification of his condition and furthermore put pressure on them to end to the barbaric practice of detention and deportation of refugees.
- Serco (For Colnbrook), Press Office: 01344 386 300
- Home Office Press Office: 020 7035 3535
voice_refugee_forum@dalitstan.org
Mr.Tariq Rashid, Colnbrook,c-wing,ground floor room 2. Has been in immigration detention for 19 months,and 2 weeks. He had begged for an asylum that was refused, and has remained in detention since he has applied for bail, and has gone for bail hearings 4 times,but he was refused them all.
He then begged to be sent back to Iraq and has filled voluntary return forms 10 times, but the home office reply was that his country was too dangerous to remove him to.
So he was abandoned in detention,and after receiving yet another monthly report telling him "your case has been reviewed and it has been decided that you remain in detention till......" he sank into a deep depression and yesterday 11th May 2006 at 8:45.p.m, after looking at his family's pictures, he went to the office collected a shaving razor, broke the stem and extracted the razor, and was cutting himself when his friend walked in. his friend managed to prevent him from completing the cut across his neck,but not before he had opened a 6 inch gash from the left side of his neck down to his breast bone.
He bled so much the officers had to spread plastic bags on the ground to prevent permanent damage to the carpet.this happened in full view of detainees. the nurses were called and he was quickly strechered out and taken to hospital outside. Mr.L who has also been in detention for 2 years,broke down crying.
The aftermath
This morning,at 8:30am an as yet unidentified Jamaican tried to jump from the second floor, but the alarm was raised by other detainees who managed to restrain him till the officers arrived. he has been placed on a "level 3, Suicide Watch".
Fifteen Minutes Later: Mr.****** (c-wing,first floor room 4) from IRAN, was found by his room mate hanging from the door handle, by his own bedsheet. he had
earlier tried to cut his throat with a razor,but his room mate had reported to the officers, but instead of counselling, he was locked up in solitary confinement, that further aggravated his psychological condition, and led to this second more determined attempt.
How many more deaths or attempts must the detainees see. The tension and anger in the whole center is palpable at the moment, inmates have witnessed three suicide attempts in 12 hours,and they have become desperate.
In retrospect to what happened on Sunday lunchtime, it is only a matter of time before the inmates that are not strong enough to commit suicide now summon up courage, or find other means to vent their simmering anger and desperation.
Last night alone the whole wing especially those currently on hungerstrikes were subject to a half hourly "suicide prevention check".
This is a sorry situation of able young men, driven to desperation and suicide, a proof of Colnbrook's despair.
Anon,
Colnbrook detainee
(Name and email address have been withheld)
Iraqi man attempts commits suicide at Colnbrook Detention centre
Hunger Strike Update - 11th May 2006
Last night, at 18:00 on 10/05/06, on C-Wing, Tareq Rashid from Iraq made serious attempt to self-harm removed plastic from shaving stick and cut his throat, stomach and chest. He has been taken to Hospital (we think it is Hillingdon Hospital). This occured after he was severely beaten by 8 security officers who have been also beating the hunger strikers. These include: Jenny Halliday - the General Manager, Stuart Martin and Craig Holker (a particularly viscious officer who takes pleasure in verbally abusing and punching and beating detainees including Romeo Dzamba who is on hunger strike)
Around 20 police officers went to Colnbrook and interviewed the Centre Manager Craig Thompson, as this is the second known suicide attempt in as many weeks, (a young Afghanistani man on D-Wing attempted suicide on Thursday 2nd May and all detainees were locked in their rooms).
We are still unsure of Tariq's condition. We urge all concerned individuals and organisations to contact the Home Office and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre and ask for clarification of his condition and furthermore put pressure on them to end to the barbaric practice of detention and deportation of refugees.
- Serco (For Colnbrook), Press Office: 01344 386 300
- Home Office Press Office: 020 7035 3535
voice_refugee_forum@dalitstan.org 
