Hunger Strike Risks Mount As Prisoners’ Health Fails

Three prisoners connected to Palestine Action are showing severe signs of physical collapse as a rolling hunger strike has entered its second month for some participants, supporters say. One striker, Heba Muraisi, 31, has reached day 65 and is reported to be suffering muscle spasms and trouble breathing. Kamran Ahmed, 28, now on day 58 and held at Pentonville in north London, has experienced episodes of hearing loss and has already been hospitalised five times. The third remaining participant, 22‑year‑old Lewie Chiaramello, has type 1 diabetes and has been fasting every other day for 44 days. Doctors warn the trio are well past the period when such protests typically become life‑threatening. Dr James Smith, an emergency physician and UCL lecturer, says anyone refusing food beyond three weeks moves into a critical phase and can deteriorate rapidly and permanently. He pointed to major risks including cardiac problems, infection and neurological damage that can show up as hearing or vision loss. He added that modern medical supplementation may have delayed an immediate catastrophe, but their bodies are nonetheless breaking down. The action began on 2 November and demands include immediate bail, lifting a ban on Palestine Action, shutting down UK sites tied to the Israeli firm Elbit Systems and ending restrictions on the prisoners’ communications. Supporters note all three will have been held on remand for over 18 months before trial — well past the usual six‑month custody norm. Five inmates previously on strike have suspended their fasts, the most recent being Teuta Hoxha, who stopped after 60 days. Observers say this is the largest coordinated hunger strike in Britain since the 1981 IRA protests, when ten people died; the first death then occurred after 46 days and several fatalities fell between days 59 and 61. Ahmed, who has described sharp chest pain and a racing heartbeat, says he intends to keep going despite fear for his life and argues the burden of responsibility should lie with government ministers. Prison authorities say healthcare staff provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation. The prisoners minister, James Timpson, emphasised that remand and trial decisions are matters for independent judges and that ministers will not meet the hunger strikers, citing separation of powers. The Ministry of Justice has also said meeting the detainees or their representatives could create incentives for others to risk their health. This standoff presents a stark clash between medical urgency and legal principle, with campaigners warning time may be running out for all involved. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article