After 73 days, the largest coordinated hunger strike in British prison history has ended as activists announced they will resume eating following the UK government’s decision not to award a huge military contract
Hunger strikers have announced they have ended their action after 73 days. It comes after a firm failed to secure a £2 billion military training contract from the UK government, which the activists claim was one of their key demands.
The hunger strike was the largest and longest coordinated protest of its kind in British prisons. Activists claim it has drawn attention to issues of prolonged pre-trial detention, prison conditions, as well as the UK’s relationship with arms manufacturers.
The three protesters – Kamran Ahmed, Heba Muraisi and Lewie Chiaramello – have announced their decision to end their hunger strikes, UK-based advocacy group Prisoners for Palestine announced in an official statement on Wednesday (January 14).
They have reportedly ended their strike as a result of Elbit Sytems UK being denied a government contract, which was reportedly a key demand. Elbit Sytems UK is the British subsidiary of Elbit Systems, an Israeli multinational defence electronics company.
Muraisi, Ahmed, Chiaramello, and their fellow activists behind bars, Teuta Hoxha, Jon Cink, Qesser Zuhrah, and Amu Gib, have now reportedly all begun re-feeding in accordance with health guidelines. The hunger strikers made British history, participating in the largest coordinated and longest hunger strike in Britain lasting in total 73 days, with Muraisi ending at 73 days.
“Our prisoners’ hunger strike will be remembered as a landmark moment of pure defiance; an embarrassment for the British state,” Prisoners for Palestine said.
“While these prisoners end their hunger strike, the resistance has just begun. Banning a group and imprisoning our comrades has backfired on the British state, direct action is alive and the people will drive Elbit out of Britain for good.”
Elbit Systems lost out on a £2 billion contract that would have seen them train 60,000 British troops each year. Since 2012, Elbit have won over 10 public contracts.
Reports claim that, despite determined efforts by officials in the Ministry of Defence and the British Army, including meetings and trips to Jerusalem with Elbit Systems UK and its parent company, Elbit ultimately lost out on the £2 billion, decade-long British Army training contract.
National prison healthcare leaders had met earlier this month with hunger-striking prisoners to discuss prison conditions and treatment, marking a significant breakthrough prompted by the Ministry of Justice.
Muraisi’s transfer to HMP Bronzefield was approved, and Hoxha was offered a meeting with the head of the Joint Extremism Unit. During the strike, some prisoners received long-withheld mail, according to Prisoners for Palestine.
The activists have been detained in prison for their alleged involvement in “direct action” protests organised by Palestine Action, all of whom began a hunger strike in November.
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