Two protesters awaiting trial end hunger strike
Two detained prisoners awaiting trial for alleged crimes related to the Palestine Action ended their hunger strike protest; but five more detainees are said to have continued to refuse food.
Detainees in various prisons made a number of demands, such as lifting the ban on Palestine Action and closing down a defense firm with ties to Israel.
According to supporters, the two detainees who protested the longest refused to eat for 45 days; This claim was not disputed by the authorities.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said “rules and procedures” were being followed regarding the hunger strike.
The group’s lawyers have written repeatedly to Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister David Lammy, requesting a meeting and saying there is a “real and increasing likelihood” their clients will die as a result of their protests.
Fifty-one MPs and colleagues also wrote to Lammy, asking him to meet with lawyers.
The protests, which began in November, include people accused of alleged trespass or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Movement, but the charges have been denied.
All of the alleged incidents occurred before Palestine Action was banned under terrorism legislation; but their cases won’t be heard until next year.
Supporters of the detainees confirmed to BBC News on Wednesday that Jon Cink and Umer Khalid had ended their hunger strike after 41 and 13 days respectively.
Qesser Zuhrah and Amy Gardiner-Gibson are said to have refused to eat for 45 days. Heba Muraisi started her protest a day later. It is said that Teuta Hodja refused for 38 days and Kamran Ahmed for 37 days.
Supporters explained that the eighth prisoner had participated in the protest intermittently, but broke it off due to an underlying health condition.
Some of the group spent periods in hospital; but in all cases they were either discharged or self-discharged.
An ambulance arrived at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey on Wednesday and video posted on social media showed a scuffle between protesters and police.
The vehicle then left, but a South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman would not comment on whether the vehicle was taking a protester to hospital.
During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sir Keir that ministers had refused to meet representatives of the protesters and one of the group had been hospitalised.
“Many people are very concerned about the regular violations of prison conditions and prison rules related to these hunger strikes,” he said.
“Will arrangements be made for the Ministry of Justice to meet with representatives of the hunger strikers and discuss the violations of the conditions under which they are now living?”
Sir Keir replied: “He will appreciate that there are rules and procedures in place regarding hunger strikes and we comply with those rules and procedures.”
On Tuesday, the justice secretary, Jake Richards, said in response to an earlier question from Corbyn that he would not meet with the group’s lawyers and that the Ministry of Justice had “robust and appropriate guidance and procedures” for such scenarios.
“I and the ministry are pleased that these procedures have been put in place and we will continue to keep them under review.”
