Petition to the Irish Government and Department of Justice: Stop the Inhumane Detention of Asylum Seekers

We, the undersigned, urgently call on the Irish Government and the Department of Justice to immediately end the practice of detaining asylum seekers—particularly those who have not committed any crime—alongside convicted offenders in Ireland's prison facilities.

This campaign is initiated by the Concerned Rejected Asylum Seekers Group – Ireland and supported by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including asylum seekers at various stages of the process. Some are awaiting decisions, others have been rejected, and many are living in prolonged uncertainty. All share a deep concern regarding the treatment of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge.

Placing individuals who are not criminals into prison environments:

Violates their dignity and fundamental rights
Causes severe psychological distress and re-traumatization
Conflicts with Ireland's obligations under international and EU human rights conventions
We respectfully urge the authorities to:

Cease the placement of asylum seekers in penal institutions, in accordance with international and domestic legal standards
Provide dedicated, non-penal accommodation for individuals awaiting case decisions, appeals, or deportation
Treat all asylum seekers—regardless of case outcome—with dignity, compassion, and fairness
These individuals are not criminals. Ireland has a moral and legal responsibility to uphold humane standards in its asylum system. We believe that Ireland can and must do better.

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If you believe in dignity, justice, and humanity, we invite you to sign and stand in solidarity.

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Relevant Legal Frameworks:

🌍 International Law:

1951 Refugee Convention (Article 31)

Prohibits penalizing refugees or asylum seekers for illegal entry if they present themselves without delay to authorities.
Emphasizes that they must not be treated as criminals or subjected to punitive detention.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – Article 9

Prohibits arbitrary detention.
Requires that different categories of detainees be kept separately, e.g., asylum seekers should not be held with convicted criminals.
🇪🇺 European Law:

EU Asylum Procedures Directive (2013/32/EU)

Asylum seekers may only be detained as a last resort and under exceptional circumstances.
They must be held in facilities separate from criminal detention centers.
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (Articles 6, 18, 19)

Prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment.
Guarantees the right to asylum under EU law.
🇮🇪 Irish Law:

International Protection Act 2015 (Ireland)

Regulates asylum procedures and conditions of detention.
Does not authorize placing rejected asylum seekers in criminal prisons as a default measure.
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2003

Requires the state to uphold international human rights standards when implementing national laws.
Detaining asylum seekers with criminals could constitute a violation of human dignity and humane treatment obligations.
Irish Supreme Court Judgments

The courts have repeatedly ruled that arbitrary or degrading detention of asylum seekers is unlawful under both domestic and international law.