UN experts on Friday called for the protection of eight pro-Palestine activists on hunger strike while imprisoned in the UK. The eight individuals began their hunger strike on November 2.
The experts expressed concerns regarding the treatment of activists, warning that the UK must comply with its obligations to the individuals under international human rights law. The experts pointed to reports of delayed access to healthcare and a “lack of consistent medical oversight,” emphasizing that the health of the activists has dramatically worsened since the hunger strike began and remains at serious risk.
The experts stated, “Hunger strike is often a measure of last resort by people who believe that their rights to protest and effective remedy have been exhausted.” They added: “The State’s duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished… Authorities must ensure timely access to emergency and hospital care when clinically indicated, refrain from actions that may amount to pressure or retaliation, and respect medical ethics.”
The UK ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1976, which includes the right to health in Article 12.
The prisoners have five demands: the end of all censorship; immediate bail while awaiting trial; the right to a fair trial, including the release of any documents related to their cases; the immediate dropping of all terrorism-related charges; and that the UK government divests from Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense manufacturing company.
The eight prisoners are independently accused of charges related to two actions damaging the property of Elbit Systems and the Royal Air Force. Their names are Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, Lewie Chiaramello and Umer Khalid. Four of the eight have ended their hunger strikes due to health reasons.
Cink, Khalid, Chiaramello, and Gib are accused of breaking into a Royal Air Force hangar and allegedly causing £7million worth of damage to two military aircraft. Zuhrah, Muraisi, Hoxha, and Ahmed are members of the Filton 24, accused of participating in the break-in at Elbit System’s research center for Israeli weapons.
The experts also expressed concern about the overbreadth of the “terrorism” definition under UK law, and the mass arrests of individuals for alleged support of Palestine Action.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government classified Palestine Action as a terrorist organization in July. Section 1(b) of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism as an action that involves serious damage to property. Parliament can classify a group as a terrorist organization under Section 3 of the act for participating in or glorifying acts of terrorism.
Police in the UK have arrested hundreds of anti-genocide protestors for holding signs stating, “I Support Palestine actions.” UK police recently arrested Greta Thunberg for holding a sign that reads, ” I support Palestine action and the Palestine action prisoners.” Authorities later released her on bail until March.
In 1981, 10 Irish Republican prisoners died in British custody. The leader of the movement, Bobby Sands, died after 66 days on strike. Heba Muraisi is on the 55th day of her hunger strike.
