A Palestinian rights campaigner on a prolonged hunger strike in a British prison has declared that dying for his cause would be "worthwhile", as his health reaches a critical juncture.
Striker's Defiant Stance from Hospital
Kamran Ahmed, a 28-year-old from London, has now refused food for 42 days and has been hospitalised after suffering intense chest pains, tremors, and slurred speech. Speaking to The Sunday Times from his cell at HMP Pentonville before being moved to hospital, Ahmed described the physical toll.
"Every day I'm scared that potentially I might die," he said. "I've been getting chest pains regularly... There have been times where I felt like I'm getting tasered – my body's vibrating or shaking." He revealed that a nurse warned him as early as the seventh day, saying, "I'm scared you're not going to wake up."
Despite the fear, Ahmed remains resolute. "I'm looking at the bigger picture... Yes, I'm scared of passing away. Yes, this may have lifelong implications. But I look at the risk versus reward. I see it as worthwhile."
Legal Case and Mounting Pressure
Ahmed is accused, alongside other Palestine Action campaigners, of using sledgehammers to break into the UK site of an Israel-based defence company, Elbit Systems, near Bristol in August 2024. The alleged damage is said to be worth £1 million.
The prisoners' demands include immediate bail, fair trials, and the closure of Elbit's UK sites. Their legal team, Imran Khan and Partners, has warned Foreign Secretary David Lammy that "young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence."
Pressure on the government is intensifying. Nearly 900 healthcare workers have signed a letter to Deputy PM and Justice Secretary Lammy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and NHS bosses, demanding urgent intervention. Emergency doctor James Smith has warned publicly that the strikers "are dying" and need specialist care.
Government's Constitutional Stance
In response, the government maintains that it cannot interfere with the judicial process. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that "rules and procedures" are being followed, while ministers have declined to meet with the strikers' representatives.
Prisons minister Lord Timpson told The Mirror that while concerning, "hunger strikes are not a new issue for our prisons." He highlighted that there are over 200 such incidents annually and that established procedures are in place.
"Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation," he stated, adding that claims hospital care is being refused are "entirely misleading." He emphasised that remand decisions are for independent judges and that ministerial intervention in ongoing cases would be "unconstitutional."
As public figures from music groups like The Pogues and Kneecap add their voices to calls for action, the Ministry of Justice labels the protest "unacceptable" but insists prisoner health is managed by policy. With Ahmed's condition deteriorating, the race against a medical "point of no return" continues.
