Key Takeaways
- Two Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners, Amu Gib and Kamran Ahmed, have been hospitalized due to their ongoing hunger strike, which has reached 50 and 42 days, respectively.
- The prisoners are among eight who have been admitted to hospital since the hunger strike began on November 2, with concerns raised over prison conditions and government intervention.
- MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, have expressed concerns over the delay in medical assistance and limited communication with families, and have called for urgent government intervention.
- The prisoners’ collective has warned that the hunger strikers "will die" unless there is immediate government action, citing the state’s responsibility for their well-being while in custody.
- Lawyers representing the prisoners have criticized the justice secretary, David Lammy, for refusing to meet with them to discuss the prisoners’ concerns.
Introduction to the Hunger Strike
The hunger strike, which began on November 2, has sparked concerns over the treatment of prisoners and the government’s response to their demands. Amu Gib, 30, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, are the latest prisoners to be hospitalized due to their participation in the hunger strike. Gib, who is being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, has been on hunger strike for 50 days, while Ahmed, who is being held at Pentonville prison in London, has been on hunger strike for 42 days. The prisoners’ collective has warned that the hunger strikers "will die" unless there is urgent government intervention, citing the state’s responsibility for their well-being while in custody.
Prison Conditions and Medical Assistance
The prisoners’ collective has raised concerns over the prison conditions and the delay in medical assistance for the hunger strikers. Gib was provided with a wheelchair on Friday and taken to hospital on Saturday, after his condition had deteriorated significantly. A friend of Gib’s, Jessica Dolliver, expressed concern over the delay in medical assistance, stating that she was not surprised by Gib’s hospitalization given his deteriorating condition. The prisoners’ collective has criticized the government’s response to the hunger strike, citing the lack of communication with families and the limited access to medical assistance.
Government Response and Criticism
The government’s response to the hunger strike has been criticized by MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn, who has visited Gib in detention. Corbyn, along with MPs John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner, wrote a letter to the prisons inspectorate raising concerns over the "inconsistent and unreliable" health treatment of the hunger strikers. The letter also expressed concern over the lack of communication with families and the limited access to medical assistance. The prisons minister, Lord Timpson, has previously stated that the service is "very experienced" at dealing with hunger strikes and has "robust and working" systems in place, but the prisoners’ collective has disputed this claim.
MPs’ Concerns and Calls for Action
MPs have expressed concern over the delay in medical assistance and limited communication with families, and have called for urgent government intervention. Corbyn and over 50 MPs urged the justice secretary, David Lammy, to meet with the lawyers of the hunger strikers, but Lammy has refused. The MPs’ letter stated that their inquiries had either gone unanswered or had been met with vague reassurances that all policies and guidelines were being followed. However, the prisoners and their loved ones have reported that this is not the case, highlighting the need for immediate government action to address the concerns raised by the hunger strikers.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The hunger strike by Palestine Action-affiliated prisoners has raised concerns over prison conditions, medical assistance, and government intervention. The prisoners’ collective has warned that the hunger strikers "will die" unless there is urgent government action, citing the state’s responsibility for their well-being while in custody. MPs have expressed concern over the delay in medical assistance and limited communication with families, and have called for immediate government intervention. The government must take immediate action to address the concerns raised by the hunger strikers and ensure that their demands are heard and addressed. The prisoners’ collective has emphasized that the hunger strikers will continue to protest until their demands are met, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that they are treated humanely and with dignity while in custody.