Palestine Action starvation strikers start authorized motion in opposition to authorities after activists are hospitalised | EUROtoday

Palestine Action starvation strikers have initiated authorized proceedings in opposition to the federal government as they accuse it of abandoning its personal jail security coverage framework.

A authorized agency representing the activists has submitted a pre-action letter to Justice Secretary David Lammy as a number of imprisoned members, together with one who has refused meals for 51 days, have been hospitalised attributable to quickly deteriorating well being.

The letter, dispatched on Monday, outlines the group’s intention to pursue authorized motion, citing the federal government’s alleged abandonment of its personal jail security coverage framework.

Strikers declare they’ve despatched a number of letters to Mr Lammy, who additionally serves as deputy prime minister, however have obtained no response.

Seen by the Press Association, the pressing communication calls for a response inside 24 hours, stressing that the problem is a “matter of urgency” as “our clients’ health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day.”

It additional requests “an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients’ health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation.”

open image in gallery

Since the starvation strike commenced on 2 November, seven prisoners have been admitted to hospital. Among them are Amu Gib, 30, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, from Pentonville Prison in London.

Two folks have needed to finish their starvation strikes attributable to well being situations. Jon Cink, 25, ended his on day 41, whereas Umer Khalid, 22, ended theirs on day 13.

Gib, now on day 51 of their strike, was hospitalised on Saturday and reportedly requires a wheelchair attributable to their quickly declining situation. Ahmed is presently on day 43 of his strike.

Last Thursday, emergency doctor Dr James Smith warned journalists that a few of the activists “are dying” and require specialist medical intervention.

Sending a letter with the signatures of over 800 docs, Dr Smith warned the strikers have been at “very excessive threat of significant problems, together with organ failure, irreversible neurological harm, cardiac arrhythmias, and loss of life.”

open image in gallery

The prisoners face charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage carried out on behalf of Palestine Action, prior to the group being banned under terrorism legislation.

Gib is accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painting two RAF Voyager planes. Ahmed faces charges of causing £1 million of damage with sledgehammers at the UK site of an Israel-based defence firm near Patchway, Bristol, in August 2024.

The strikers’ demands include the de-proscription of ‘Palestine Action’ as a terrorist group and for the ban to be lifted and the shutting down of defence firms linked to Israel. They also called for the immediate bail for their prisoners, the right to a fair trial, and for the protection of freedom of expression while in prison as the allege letters have gone missing and phone calls have been blocked.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “We strongly refute these claims. We need these prisoners to simply accept help and get higher, and we won’t create perverse incentives that might encourage extra folks to place themselves in danger by way of starvation strikes.”

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer previously affirmed that “guidelines and procedures” are being followed, while Prisons minister Lord Timpson has maintained that the service is “very skilled” in handling hunger strikes, possessing “strong and dealing” systems.

Lord Timpson added that the Prison Service “won’t be assembly” any prisoners or their representatives.