Key Takeaways
- 86 people have been arrested in the UK for gathering at a London prison in support of a Palestine Action-linked activist on hunger strike
- The activist, Umer Khalid, has been on hunger strike for 16 days and plans to escalate his protest by refusing all fluids
- Khalid is among a group of five activists accused of breaking into a UK airbase and spray-painting planes, and has pleaded not guilty
- The UK government has banned Palestine Action under "antiterrorism" laws, leading to multiple protests and hundreds of arrests
- Seven protesters have been involved in rolling hunger strikes since November, with two recently ending their protests after one of their demands was met
Introduction to the Protest
The UK’s Metropolitan Police reported that 86 people were arrested on Saturday after gathering at London’s Wormwood Scrubs prison in support of Umer Khalid, a 22-year-old pro-Palestine activist who has been on hunger strike for 16 days. Khalid, who is being held at the prison, had briefly paused his hunger strike in December due to severe ill health but resumed it in November. The protesters allegedly blocked prison staff from entering and leaving the premises, threatened police officers, and managed to gain access to a staff entrance area of a prison building.
The Police Response
The police response to the protest was swift and forceful, with officers shoving protesters to the ground and handcuffing them. Videos of the incident verified by Al Jazeera show police officers using aggressive tactics to contain the protesters, including kettling, a police tactic that involves surrounding and closing in on a group of demonstrators. The police said that the protesters were detained under suspicion of aggravated trespass. The use of force by the police has raised concerns about the right to peaceful protest and the treatment of activists in the UK.
Umer Khalid’s Hunger Strike
Umer Khalid’s hunger strike is part of a larger protest movement by Palestine Action, a pro-Palestine group that has been banned by the UK government under "antiterrorism" laws. Khalid is among a group of five activists accused of breaking into the UK’s largest airbase, Brize Norton, in June and spray-painting two Voyager refuelling and transport planes. The group has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Khalid’s mother, Shabana Khalid, told Al Jazeera that her son is being closely monitored by prison authorities, with a guard stationed outside his cell and hourly medical observations. However, she expressed concern about her son’s health, saying that he is starting to get tired and can be heard struggling in his voice.
The Demands of the Protesters
The protesters, including Umer Khalid, are demanding bail, the right to a fair trial, and the de-proscription of Palestine Action. They are also seeking the closure of Elbit sites in the UK, an end to what they call censorship in prison, and the restoration of mail, calls, books, and visitation rights. The protesters believe that their hunger strike is a necessary measure to draw attention to their cause and to pressure the UK government to meet their demands. As Umer Khalid told Al Jazeera, "The only thing that seems to have any impact, whether that is positive or negative, is drastic action."
The Broader Context
The protest at Wormwood Scrubs prison is part of a larger movement of solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposition to the UK government’s ban on Palestine Action. The ban has been widely criticized as unjustified and has led to multiple protests and hundreds of arrests. The UK government’s decision to ban Palestine Action has been challenged in court, and the United Nations has criticized the move as an attack on freedom of speech and assembly. The ongoing hunger strikes by Umer Khalid and other protesters are a testament to the determination and courage of those who are fighting for justice and freedom in the face of overwhelming odds.
Conclusion
The arrest of 86 people at Wormwood Scrubs prison is a significant development in the ongoing protest movement in support of Umer Khalid and Palestine Action. The use of force by the police and the detention of protesters under suspicion of aggravated trespass raise concerns about the right to peaceful protest and the treatment of activists in the UK. As the hunger strike by Umer Khalid and other protesters continues, it remains to be seen how the UK government will respond to their demands and whether the ban on Palestine Action will be lifted. One thing is certain, however: the protest movement will continue to draw attention to the cause of justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.
