KEY POINTS:
Five protesters who chained themselves to the flagpole and lights at Mt Eden remand prison have been arrested this afternoon for trespass.
Two others, who police say were warned to stay away from the prison grounds, were also arrested.
The seven were members of the group Global Peace and Justice Auckland and were protesting in support of asylum seeker Ali Panah, who they say is now into the 51st day of a hunger strike.
Mr Panah is starving himself in protest over a government decision to deport him to Iran. He has been detained in Mt Eden prison but has weakened in recent days and is now being treated in Auckland Hospital.
Group member Omar Hamed said three of the protesters had chained themselves to the prison office, while two were chained to prison flagpoles.
"The police are using boltcutters to unchain one of us now," Mr Hamed told NZPA by mobile phone.
He said they were carrying a banner, "Free Ali Panah: 51 Days Starving For Justice."
Senior Sergeant Cam Moore of Auckland police said some of the protesters had chained themselves to the prison lights and others to the flagpole.
Police used boltcutters to unchain them and they were arrested and charged with trespassing, as were two people who were "warned to stay off the prison grounds and then came back on".
They will appear in court at a later date, he said.
The group said Mr Panah has been accepting liquid mineral supplements on the advice of his doctors but is refusing solid food. They say he remains in strong spirits.
Mr Panah has refused to sign deportation orders, saying he would face death if he was returned to Iran. His supporters say he converted to Christianity when in South Korea and sent a video of his baptism to his mother.
They say the video was apparently intercepted by Iranian customs officials and referred to the authorities. In his absence, he was sentenced to death.
They want the government to issue a temporary visa until it is safe for him to return to Iran.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said last month said Panah had had his full rights under the law over his claim for refugee status.
- NZPA
