Seized Iraqis begin hunger strike after church raid

Aug 14, 2009, 13:34 GMT

Copenhagen - Iraqi men who were detained by Danish police in a controversial raid on a church in central Copenhagen have begun a hunger strike, news reports said Friday.

Police forced their way early Thursday into the Brorson church and detained 18 Iraqis who had sought refuge there after their asylum applications had been turned down.

Public broadcaster DR reported Friday that friends of the 18 men had been informed that the detainees had begun a hunger strike.

'They have been on hunger strike since they were detained. All 18 are taking part,' Agri Kurdistani told DR.

His girlfriend's brother was reported to be one of the detainees.

On Thursday evening protests were staged in several Danish cities against the police action and the decision to repatriate Iraqis.

Meanwhile, the police have been backed by members of the centre- right government, its parliamentary backer the populist Danish People's Party as well as the opposition Social Democrats.

Denmark and Iraq in May signed an agreement over the repatriation of some 240 Iraqis.

The repatriation agreement has been criticized since some of the affected individuals and families have been in Denmark for up to 10 years.