Who Are the Hunger Strikers?

Top row, from left

• Amu Gib HMP Bronzefield Aged 30, started hunger strike on November 2nd
  
• Heba Muraisi, HMP New Hall Age 30, Started hunger strike on 3rd November
  
• Jon Clink Bronzefield HMP Aged 24, started hunger strike on November 5th

Bottom row, from left

• Teuta Hoxha HMP Peterborough Aged 29,started hunger strike on November 9th
• Kamran Ahmed HMP Pentoville Aged 27, started hunger strike on November 10th
• Qesser Zuhrah HMP Bronzefield 20 years old , started hunger strike on November 2nd

Six young people, Jon, Qessar, Heba, Kamran, Teuta and Amu are currently being held on remand in the UK, where they have now spent many months in prison without conviction. All six are on hunger strike, some for more than a month, and two have been hospitalised. Their protest is driven by deep moral conviction: their actions were part of Palestine Action’s campaign to stop the production of weapons and components being used in attacks on civilians in Gaza. It is clear that these young people acted from a place of conscience, altruism and compassion, not violence or personal gain.

They pose no risk to the public, many have ordinary lives outside these walls, students, carers, and young adults with families, responsibilities, and futures. Their activism was born from witnessing immense suffering and for them, remaining silent while drones and bombs were produced felt impossible. The prisoners are prepared to take this action ,because they feel they have exhausted all other options. Audrey Corno, of the Prisoners for Palestine group said “They have tried to have their demands met through the prison complaint system and judicial system, But they have been consistently let down by both.”  

What is especially troubling is that defendants linked to Palestine-related activism are treated more harshly than almost any comparable group. Remand is usually for prisoners, who have committed murder or rape offences and deemed a danger to the public. These young activists, who are non-violent, not a risk to the public, and motivated by humanitarian concern. They face being on remand in prison for up to one or two years before even standing trial. Their lives have been put on hold, their health is deteriorating, and their families are enduring unimaginable stress.
​
Their hunger strike is a last attempt to draw attention to the injustice they feel. It is a plea for fairness, for proportionality, for recognition of their humanity and of course for the liberation of the Palestinian people. These six young people should not be losing their health or their lives before their case has even been heard. They deserve safety, dignity, and the same presumption of innocence that is guaranteed to everyone under UK law.