Who are the Palestine Action supporters on starvation strike? | EUROtoday

Palestine Action activists who’ve been on starvation strike for months whereas awaiting trial for alleged break-ins or prison injury are dying, in line with a health care provider.

Dr James Smith, an emergency doctor who’s a lecturer at University College London, stated the group want specialist medical assist, as politicians have urged the federal government to intervene, with among the eight prisoners, who started the motion in protest at being held in custody whereas awaiting trial, have been taken to hospital.

Four of the group are accused of taking part in roles within the break-in to an Israeli-linked defence agency in 2024 and are on account of go on trial in May subsequent yr on the earliest.

The different 4 are accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June, the place it’s alleged they induced injury to 2 army jets.

The alleged offences occurred earlier than the group was banned beneath terrorism laws in July, which has made membership of or help for it a prison offence punishable by as much as 14 years in jail.

Those on starvation strike deny the costs however have been denied bail. On Thursday, members of the family of the protesters held a press convention, supported by MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, the place they sat in entrance of a board of seven names, itemizing the size of their starvation strikes.

At a press convention, Dr Smith stated: “The hunger strikers are dying.” He added: “We are alarmed by accounts of substandard monitoring and treatment within the prison system.

“Last week more than 200 members of the British Medical Association wrote to the BMA to sound the alarm.”

It got here after Sir Keir Starmer was requested at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) whether or not he would make preparations for the Ministry of Justice to satisfy the starvation strikers’ attorneys concerning their remedy.

He had been challenged by Mr Corbyn, who claimed there have been “regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules”.

Sir Keir stated: “He will appreciate there are rules and procedures in place in relation to hunger strikes, and we’re following those rules and procedures.”

According to the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), of the eight preliminary starvation strikers, six are nonetheless persevering with their strike. One is described as becoming a member of the protest intermittently on account of an underlying well being situation.

The Independent has profiled the activists on starvation strike:

Qesser Venus

Qesser Zuhrah, 20, is accused of aggravated housebreaking, violent dysfunction and prison injury over allegedly breaking into Israeli-linked Elbit Systems UK’s website at Filton, Bristol.

In latest days, protesters, together with Zarah Sultana MP, gathered on the HMP Bronzefield in Surrey to demand she be taken to hospital.

On Wednesday, the forty sixth day of her starvation strike, she was taken to hospital.

Amu Gib

Amu Gib is on the forty seventh day of their starvation strike. They are charged with conspiracy to destroy property and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for a objective prejudicial to the security and/or pursuits of the UK in relation to the alleged break in to RAF Brize Norton.

Last week, Mr Corbyn wrote on Instagram to say he had visited Gib at jail and known as for them to be granted bail.

Heba Muraisi

Heba Muraisi started her protest a day later and is on the forty sixth day of her strike. She is charged in reference to the alleged incident in Filton.

Teuta Hoxha

Teuta Hoxha is charged with prison injury and aggravated housebreaking in relation to alleged motion at Elbit Systems. She is on the fortieth day of her strike.

Rahma Hoxha, her sister, stated on the press convention: “The longer this goes on the scarier this gets for her and my family, my sister shouldn’t even be in prison.

“The prison guards called her a terrorist, even though she’s on remand. She said it feels as if the government is trying to bury them alive and for them to go quietly.”

Kamran Ahmed

Charged with aggravated housebreaking, prison injury and violent dysfunction in relation to the alleged Elbit break-in, Kamran Ahmed has been on starvation strike for 39 days.

A letter reported by Sky News stated Ahmed has been taken to hospital twice since November.

His sister Shahmina Alam advised reporters on the press convention: “Our family have never felt this much anxiety, never dreaded phone calls as much as we have now.

“His heart is giving in and his pulse is slowing down, he is losing half a kilogram every day.”

She added: “The justice system is hanging on a very thin thread.”

Muhammad Umer Khalid and Jon Cink

BBC News reported on Wednesday that supporters had stated Jon Cink and Muhammad Umer Khalid had ended their starvation strike after 41 days and 13 days respectively.

Both are charged in reference to the alleged break-in at Brize Norton.

They will subsequent seem in court docket for a preliminary listening to on 16 January, having appeared on the Old Bailey through video hyperlink on 12 December.

Lord Timpson, prisons minister, stated: “We are very experienced at dealing with hunger strikes. Unfortunately, over the last five years we have averaged over 200 hunger strike incidents every year and the processes that we have are well-established and they work very well – with prisons working alongside our NHS partners every day, making sure our systems are robust and working – and they are.

“I am very clear. I don’t treat any prisoners differently to others. That is why we will not be meeting any prisoners or their representatives. We have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system.”