Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland

The Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) is an Irish advocacy group for those seeking international protection in the Republic of Ireland, with the goals of ending direct provision and deportation.

Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI)
Founded2014
FieldsRefugees, asylum seekers
Key people
Bulelani Mfaco (spokesperson), Lucky Khambule (cofounder), Donnah Sibanda Vuma (cofounder), Evgeny Shtorn
Websitewww.masi.ie

History

MASI was founded in 2014 after the protests in Direct Provision Centres to give a voice and advocate for those living in Direct Provision and seeking asylum in Ireland.[1] One of the founding members of MASI was Lucky Khambule.[2] They argue that the privatised nature of Direct Provision Centres in Ireland result in chronic issues regarding health, hygiene, and civil and human rights of those housed there.[3] They held their first conference in Liberty Hall, Dublin in October 2019, with a keynote from MASI spokesperson Bulelani Mfaco.[4] Alongside Irish Refugee Council and Nasc, MASI is one of the groups represented on the independent advisory group reviewing Direct Provision due to finish its report in late 2020.[5][6]

Core activities

MASI have a set of core goals:

  • To bring together and create a platform for asylum seekers in Ireland
  • Strives for justice, freedom, and dignity for asylum seekers
  • Calls for the end of Direct Provision
  • Demands the rights of asylum seekers to work and be educated
  • Opposes deportation
  • Is independent and not affiliated with any NGOs or political parties
  • Is funded through individuals' resources and fundraising, and does not receive funding
  • Advocates for equality for all
  • Works as a democratic collective, making all decisions as a group
  • No formal "membership"
  • No organisational structure[1]

In 2020, MASI have highlighted the systemic issues around the management and containment of COVID-19 in Direct Provision centres across Ireland,[7][8] due to problems regarding the inability for people to self-isolate, over-crowding, and lack of facilities for families and children. Some of these centres have been individually identified as having on-going issues, including in Cahersiveen,[9] Miltown Malbay,[10] and Portarlington.[11] MASI alongside Nasc, the Sanctuary Runners, Doras, Irish Refugee Council, and the Immigrant Council of Ireland, called for all vulnerable and at-risk migrants be removed from Direct Provision centres.[12]

MASI, with Black Pride Ireland and Migrants and Ethnic-minorities for Reproductive Justice, have been involved in organising Black Lives Matter protests and demonstrations in response to the killing of George Floyd in Ireland in June 2020. This has come under criticism by the minister for health and the head of the National Public Health Emergency Team as contravening the COVID-19 restrictions on movement and mass gatherings.[13]

References
  1. "Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI)". Irish Refugee Council. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  2. "Lucky Khambule". re:publica. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. Moore, Aoife; Hosford, Paul (27 April 2020). "Special Report: How accommodating asylum seekers turned into a billion-euro industry". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. Pollak, Sorcha (5 October 2019). "Irish people should demand an end to direct provision, conference hears". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  5. O'Neill, Enda (28 May 2020). "Comment: A new government has to reform direct provision". Business Post. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. Leogue, Joe (28 December 2019). "Group will examine supports for asylum seekers, including direct provision". www.irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. "Smith: Response to Covid-19 outbreak in direct provision 'an abuse of human rights'". www.irishexaminer.com. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. Fletcher, Laura (12 April 2020). "85 health workers seek to move out of Direct Provision". RTÉ News. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. Pollak, Sorcha (1 May 2020). "Kerry asylum seekers ask to be moved after quarantine introduced at centre". The Irish Times. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  10. "'Rodents and substandard food' in Direct Provision centre". The Clare Champion. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  11. Dwyer, Orla (6 January 2020). "Video of crowded Direct Provision room not staged, says asylum seeker group". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  12. Burke, Roisin (25 March 2020). "'Move the vulnerable out': Growing calls for asylum seekers to be removed from Direct Provision centres". Echo Live. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  13. Staines, Michael. "Morning top 5: Protests continue in US; Second wave 'not inevitable'". Newstalk. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
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