A woman detained in a Yorkshire prison has lost her ability to speak after continuing a hunger strike for 61 days in solidarity with Palestine Action.
Deteriorating Health in Custody
Heba Muraisi, who is being held on remand at HMP New Hall in Flockton, West Yorkshire, has described feeling progressively weaker. In a statement, she revealed she is now losing the capacity to form sentences and is struggling to maintain conversations.
She is one of eight campaigners who initially refused food while awaiting trial on charges relating to break-ins or criminal damage. According to the Prisoners for Palestine group, four others are continuing their protest. Two fellow activists, Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, ended their strike after 48 days when they became unwell and required hospital treatment.
Legal Action and Government Stance
Legal representatives for the activists have launched proceedings against the Government, warning their clients are facing a 'potential death'. They have outlined demands including immediate bail and unrestricted communication rights.
However, James Timpson, the minister for prisons, stated the government would not meet the strikers or their representatives. He emphasised the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. 'I don't treat any prisoners differently to others,' he told The Independent.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson reiterated that ministers do not intervene in individual cases, to avoid prejudicing legal proceedings. They stated welfare concerns should be raised through governors or the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, with healthcare managed by NHS professionals.
Broader Context of the Protest
Muraisi is accused alongside others of involvement in a break-in at the Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems last November, with a trial tentatively set for May next year. Another four campaigners face charges over an incident at RAF Brize Norton in June, where aircraft were allegedly sprayed with red paint.
A spokesperson for Prisoners for Palestine connected the strikers' plight to the situation in Gaza, stating: 'The hunger strikers don't get a Christmas break. Just like the Christians in Gaza, who continue to suffer... at the hands of the settler-colonial entity.' The strikers have urged the public not to forget the people of Palestine during the festive period.
The protest has drawn public attention, with a demonstration staged outside HMP New Hall earlier this week.
