Former hunger striker Qesser Zuhrah has said the group ‘will certainly return to battle’ in the new year if their demands aren’t met, as she pauses her 48 day hunger protest
Qesser Zuhrah, a 20 year old student who was on hunger strike for Palestine, has said the group “will certainly return to battle” in the new year if their demands aren’t met.
“To our Government, do not release your breath, because we will certainly return to Battle you with our Empty Stomachs in the New Year, when you have shamefully returned from your blood-soaked break, to the theatrics of your ‘democracy’,” Zuhrah said.
Zuhrah, who ended her protest after 48 days without food, joins Palestine Action in their demands to the government, which include immediate bail, fair trials, and the closure of Elbit Systems’ UK sites. Their updated demands also call for all non-association orders to dropped, access to activities and courses and for hunger striker Heba Muraisi, 31, to be transferred to HMP Bronzefield.
Heba, who was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, has since been transferred to HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, 200 miles away from her family and friends.
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The demands remain “inescapable”, according to Zuhrah, and in pausing her protest, she offers the government the chance to “get it right, to stop arming and aiding this genocide, otherwise you will force us to return to confront you with our breaths, which will be far more disastrous and dangerous than this first time.”
Zuhrah was one of the first to start the hunger strike on November 2 while being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. Zuhrah is being held on remand awaiting trial for direct action protests. Despite not being convicted of any offences, some face significant delays in the justice system.
Since the commencement of the hunger strike on November 2, a total of seven prisoners have been hospitalised, two of which were held at HMP Bronzefield.
Palestine Action have since launched a legal battle with the government. A law firm representing the hunger strikers has confirmed that a pre-action letter was submitted on December 22 to Justice Secretary David Lammy. The letter sets out the group’s intention to commence legal action.
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The hunger strikers claim they have written letters to Mr Lammy, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, but have received no reply. They accuse the government of neglecting its own policies outlined in the prison safety policy framework, claims it denies.
The letter, which has been reviewed by the Press Association, demands a response within 24 hours. It describes the situation as a “matter of urgency”, stating “our clients’ health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day”.
It adds: “They request an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients’ health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson previously said: “We strongly refute these claims. We want these prisoners to accept support and get better, and we will not create perverse incentives that would encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes”.
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