A Palestinian Action protester on a prolonged hunger strike in a UK prison is in a deteriorating physical condition, having lost a significant amount of weight, friends and supporters have warned.
Critical Condition After Nearly 70 Days Without Food
Heba Muraisi, 31, has now refused food for 69 days while being held on remand at HMP New Hall in Yorkshire. She is awaiting trial over alleged break-ins linked to the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action. According to her friend Amareen Afzal, who visited her recently, Muraisi has lost over 10 kilograms and her appearance has changed dramatically.
"She struggles to sleep on one side of her body because it's too painful," Afzal told Sky News. Muraisi is also reportedly suffering from headaches, lightheadedness, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Her next of kin, Francesca Nadin, stated this week that Muraisi is having trouble thinking clearly but remains mentally resilient.
"She's aware that she's deteriorating and physically dying," Afzal added. "Her body could fail her at any moment."
Multiple Activists Risk Permanent Harm
Muraisi is one of three Palestine Action activists continuing a hunger strike. Their demands include immediate bail, the de-proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group, and an end to UK support for companies supplying weapons to Israel. They deny charges related to alleged break-ins at the Bristol site of Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems and an RAF base in Oxfordshire.
Another striker, 28-year-old Kamran Ahmed, held at HMP Pentonville, is also in a critical state. According to the Prisoners for Palestine group, he has been taken to hospital six times since beginning his strike. His sister reported he was most recently hospitalised for a heart complication in the early hours of Wednesday morning, 59 days into his protest.
The third activist, Lewie Chiaramello, who is type 1 diabetic, is fasting on alternate days. Medical experts have issued stark warnings. Dr David Nicholl, a neurologist who has studied prison hunger strikes, explained the immediate danger is "refeeding syndrome," a potentially fatal condition that can occur when nutrition is reintroduced after prolonged starvation. He warned the strikers risk permanent harm or death even if they stop now.
Government and Judicial Response
In response to the situation, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson acknowledged hunger strikes are "very concerning" but stated they are not a new issue for the prison service. He emphasised that independent judges make remand decisions and that it would be "entirely unconstitutional" for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.
"Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation," the minister said. He denied claims that hospital care was being refused, stating prisoners are always taken when needed.
The activists' protest has drawn wider attention, with climate activist Greta Thunberg recently arrested at a demonstration in support of the hunger strikers outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
