Key Takeaways
- Seven remand prisoners are on hunger strike in protest of their detention and alleged mistreatment, with two having ended their strike after 41 and 13 days, respectively.
- The prisoners are demanding the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action and the shutdown of a defence firm with links to Israel.
- Five prisoners continue to refuse food, with some having been hospitalized and discharged or self-discharged.
- Protests have been held outside prisons in support of the hunger strikers, resulting in arrests and clashes with police.
- Lawyers for the group have requested a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary to discuss the prisoners’ conditions and demands.
Introduction to the Hunger Strike
The hunger strike protest by remand prisoners awaiting trial for alleged offences related to Palestine Action has been ongoing since November. The prisoners, who are being held in various prisons, have made several demands, including the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action and the shutdown of a defence firm with links to Israel. Two of the longest-protesting detainees, Jon Cink and Umer Khalid, have ended their hunger strike after 41 and 13 days, respectively. However, five other prisoners, including Qesser Zuhrah, Amy Gardiner-Gibson, Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha, and Kamran Ahmed, continue to refuse food, with some having been hospitalized and discharged or self-discharged.
The Prisoners’ Demands and Conditions
The prisoners’ demands are centered around the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action, which was imposed under terrorism legislation. The group’s supporters argue that the ban is unjust and that the prisoners’ trials, which are not scheduled to take place until next year, should be expedited. The prisoners are also demanding better conditions and medical care, with some having reported being denied access to medical treatment and being subjected to solitary confinement. The Ministry of Justice has stated that prisoners’ wellbeing is continually assessed, and appropriate action is taken, including hospital treatment where required. However, the prisoners’ lawyers have raised concerns about the prisoners’ conditions and have requested a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary to discuss their demands.
Protests and Clashes with Police
Protests have been held outside prisons in support of the hunger strikers, resulting in arrests and clashes with police. On Wednesday, three people were arrested following a protest outside HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey, where Qesser Zuhrah is being held. The protest turned violent, with scuffles breaking out between protesters and police, and a member of prison staff being assaulted. An ambulance arrived at the prison, and video footage showed protesters attempting to gain entry to restricted areas. Surrey Police stated that a 29-year-old man from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was arrested for suspected assault occasioning bodily harm, and a woman, 28, from Worcester Park, Surrey, was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm.
Government Response to the Hunger Strike
The government has stated that it is following "rules and procedures" in relation to the hunger strike. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer said that the government was following established protocols and that the prisoners’ wellbeing was being continually assessed. However, the prisoners’ lawyers have expressed concerns about the government’s response, stating that there is a "real and increasingly likely potential" that the prisoners could die as a result of their protest. Fifty-one MPs and peers have written to the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, David Lammy, asking him to meet with the prisoners’ lawyers to discuss their demands and conditions.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The hunger strike protest by the remand prisoners is a complex and sensitive issue, with concerns raised about the prisoners’ conditions, medical care, and access to justice. The government’s response to the protest has been criticized by the prisoners’ lawyers and supporters, who argue that more needs to be done to address the prisoners’ demands and ensure their wellbeing. As the protest continues, it is likely that tensions will escalate, and further clashes between protesters and police may occur. The government must carefully consider the prisoners’ demands and work to find a resolution to the crisis, prioritizing the prisoners’ wellbeing and access to justice.