More than fifty Members of Parliament and peers have urgently written to Justice Secretary David Lammy, calling on him to meet with representatives of a group of hunger-striking prisoners linked to the activist network Palestine Action. Lawyers for the inmates have issued a stark warning that their clients' lives are at imminent risk without ministerial intervention.
Health in 'Rapid Deterioration' as Strike Continues
Solicitors from Imran Khan & Partners wrote to Lammy last Wednesday, requesting an urgent meeting before their clients' health declines "beyond any possible recovery." In a follow-up letter seen by the Guardian, they expressed deep concern that his reply, received on Monday, failed to directly address their plea for a meeting.
The situation is becoming critical. Two of the protesters have now refused food for 45 days – just one day less than IRA hunger striker Martin Hurson survived before his death in 1982. Another prisoner is on day 44 of the protest.
The lawyers detail severe medical symptoms. Qesser Zuhrah, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, reportedly experienced uncontrollable leg shaking, collapsed, and drifted in and out of consciousness. She was allegedly sick in an ambulance called only after she begged all night for hospital transfer.
Amy Gardiner-Gibson, also at Bronzefield on day 45, is described as exhausted with test results showing dangerously low white and red blood cell counts and signs of cognitive decline.
Prisoners' Demands and Alleged Restrictions
The hunger strikers, who will have been in prison for over a year before facing trial, are demanding:
- Immediate bail.
- An end to the ban on Palestine Action.
- The cessation of restrictions on their communications.
Their legal team alleges a pattern of harsh treatment, including:
- Mail, calls, and visits restricted on spurious grounds.
- Legal mail being opened unlawfully.
- Access to books blocked.
- Prison jobs revoked for "security reasons."
- Non-association orders imposed between the defendants.
- Inadequate or delayed medical observation since the hunger strike began.
Of the eight original hunger strikers, two – Jon Cink and Umer Khalid – are understood to have ended their protest. The others continuing include individuals with pre-existing conditions like diabetes.
Mounting Political Pressure on the Justice Secretary
The cross-party group of over 50 parliamentarians has echoed the lawyers' calls, urging Lammy to meet with MPs representing the strikers and their families "and act to prevent a catastrophe."
In the House of Commons on Tuesday, independent MP Jeremy Corbyn directly asked Justice Minister Jake Richards for a meeting, to which Richards replied "no." The response prompted laughter from some MPs, leading Corbyn to post on X that "they should be ashamed of themselves."
Last week, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle labelled it "totally unacceptable" that Lammy had failed to reply to a meeting request from Labour MP John McDonnell on the issue.
The lawyers' letter concludes with a direct appeal: "You are uniquely placed... to bring about a resolution... We make clear that our request for a meeting is in an effort to seek to resolve the immediate situation and prevent the loss of life."
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: "We continually assess prisoners’ wellbeing and will always take the appropriate action... HMPPS has assured ministers that all cases of prisoner food refusal are being managed in accordance with the relevant policy and with appropriate medical assessment and support, consistent with prisoner rights."
