The families of several hunger-striking prisoners linked to the protest group Palestine Action are urgently seeking a meeting with Justice Secretary David Lammy, as the health of some detainees deteriorates dangerously after weeks without food.
Prisoners Hospitalised as Strike Reaches Critical Phase
On Monday, lawyers for the hunger strikers sent a legal letter to the Ministry of Justice, arguing that Lammy's refusal to meet with families violates official policy on handling such protests. This intervention came after a particularly severe weekend which saw three prisoners hospitalised simultaneously.
Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Amu Gib, 30, have now refused food for 51 days, while Kamran Ahmed, 28, is on day 43 of his strike. For Ahmed, this marked his third hospital admission, with his sister, Shahmina Alam, stating his condition is now "beyond the point of urgency".
Families' Plea for Humanity and Government Action
Shahmina Alam, a 33-year-old pharmacist, issued a direct appeal to the Justice Secretary. "There’s still time to do better," she told the Guardian, urging Lammy to end UK complicity in the Gaza conflict and support the prisoners. "He can show a bit of humanity," she added, drawing a stark parallel with the fatal 1981 Irish republican hunger strikes to emphasise the potential consequences of inaction.
A repeated complaint from relatives is the lack of communication when prisoners are moved to hospital. Ella Moulsdale, the designated next of kin for Qesser Zuhrah, expressed the anguish of not knowing if her friend was alive during a recent hospital transfer. "I have no confirmation that she was inside that ambulance," Moulsdale said.
Legal Pressure and Government Stance
The legal letter from Imran Khan and Partners demands a response by Tuesday afternoon, citing the "urgency of the situation" and the prisoners' "legitimate expectation" for a review meeting under official guidelines. All hunger strikers are on remand, charged with offences relating to alleged break-ins or criminal damage during protests, and will have spent over a year in jail before trial.
Other current hunger strikers include Heba Muraisi (day 50), Teuta Hoxha (day 44), and Lewie Chiaramello, who is refusing food every other day due to diabetes and is on day 16.
While there is understood to be concern within government about the prisoners' conditions, officials are extremely cautious about setting a precedent by facilitating a high-level meeting. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that hunger strikes are not a new issue, with over 200 averaged annually in recent years, and that established procedures ensure prisoner safety with NHS-standard care. The spokesperson strongly denied claims that hospital care is being refused.
Francesca Nadin of Prisoners for Palestine condemned the government's stance, stating: "Unlike the British government, the hunger strikers cannot take a Christmas holiday... Their lives are in grave danger and they may die at any moment."
