Author: Ken Afeh

22-year-old Umer Khalid ended his strike during which he met with the prison governor of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, Amy Frost, in order to discuss his prison conditions. As a result of the meeting, Umer recieved his previously withheld mail and clothes, and his restrictions on visits, which have been heavily limited ever since being held on remand in July 2025, were also lifted.

His 17-day hunger strike and 3-day thirst strike ended after being rushed to the intensive care unit in hospital, suffering multiple organ failure. Umer’s family were not alerted that he was admitted to the hospital or given access to his medical reports.

On Saturday evening, at least 86 people were arrested for protesting at HMP Wormwood Scrubs where Umer is imprisoned on remand without trial for allegedly spray painting airplanes at RAF base Brize Norton. Flight transponder data published last summer showed that Israeli Air Force KC-707 “Re’em” aerial refuelling planes were utilising RAF Brize Norton in transit to Gaza during two apparent war crimes in October 2024.

Umer suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, and is now suffering from renal failure, liver failure, and has low blood pressure and high creatine kinase levels, all signs of imminent cardiac arrest. Muscular Dystrophy severely increases the risks associated with hunger strike action; Umer was previously on hunger strike for twelve days before becoming seriously unwell and unable to walk. The prison managed his refeeding by giving him protein shakes and biscuits, which is highly dangerous.

A spokesperson for the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine, said:

“Umer absolutely must have compassionate bail in order to heal, all the hunger strikers should. The prison is simply not equipped to care for someone with Umer’s condition. Umer could have died in the intensive care unit on Sunday morning without his family ever knowing. The demands of his hunger strike and thirst strike, as the demands of the whole campaign have been, were morally and legally reasonable; he wanted an end to his censorship, bail, the right to a fair trial, an end to the unfounded terror link in Palestine Action protest cases, a public inquiry into the Gaza genocide and the UK’s complicity, and transparency around the potential use of RAF spy flights during the murder of 3 British aid workers in Gaza.

We are extremely proud of Umer and all the hunger strikers. They have achieved so much: the £2 billion contact between Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems, whose entire business model is built on the destruction of Palestinian life, and the Ministry of Defense has been dropped; prisoners including Umer have received previously censored mail; and after months of asking the prison governor for a meeting, Amy Frost has finally met with Umer. But at what cost? The hunger strikers were at death’s door, in disbelief that the British state is willing to let its own citizens die in order to stay allied in Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people. They will never be the same again.”

The other hunger strikers have not been recovering well. Kamran Ahmed, who was on hunger strike for 67 days, has been hospitalised multiple times due to abnormal heartbeat and doctors said he is now showing signs of heart failure. Kamran’s sister Shahmina Alam, who is a health worker said:

“The hunger and thirst strikers have shown that the prison healthcare system is not fit for purpose. There are systemic failures to provide care which is dignified, timely or even life-saving. The admission of prisoners to hospital has shown these prisoners are not treated as patients or even humans. They are dehumanised, handcuffed in their sleep and in the shower, and are given no privacy, confidentiality, or respect. This has left prisoners feeling uncomfortable, and even deeply afraid of receiving care in hospital. The prisoners have witnessed failures in healthcare which has led to deaths, and there is no doubt the insufficient action and neglect of the prison system has contributed to the decline of our loved ones. All humans deserve dignified and timely care, prisoners are no different.”

Umer himself gave this statement over the phone:

“Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As you all know, on day 14 of my hunger strike I began my water strike. On the morning of day 16, after the amazing show of solidarity, strength and bravery the night before by all of you on the outside, the prison took me to the hospital. At the hospital, in the afternoon I was given a choice between treatment and likely death within the next 24 hours due to kidney failure, acute liver failure, and potential cardiac arrest.

At this moment, for two reasons I decided on day 17 to end both my water strike and my hunger strike. The first is that I am too strong, too loud, too powerful, and we as a collective are also too strong, too powerful, and there is so much we can do to affect change, and I ask Allah to take my life when He is pleased with me and not before, and this clearly was not my time.

And the second reason is that they have shown without a doubt that they have no concern for our lives and they do not care if we die in these cells, if David Lammy wishes to see me dead, if Keir Starmer wishes to see me dead, they can come and do it themselves. Until then we keep fighting, we keep resisting, and what I’ve seen over this past weekend from myself and from all of you, is that the muqawamah will always, always live on no matter what happens to any of us. Assalamu alaykum. ”

Regarding the hunger strikes, MP Diane Abbott said:

“Everyone has the right to protest, or should have. Those rights are enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. We know the ECHR is under attack from the Right, but this government still says it supports it.

But there is one thing to say you support it, but it is quite another to support it in practice. We know that this government has supported the genocide in Gaza. Keir Starmer said very early on that Israel did have the right to withhold food and water.

The British government has also gone much further that other European governments that are also staunch supporters of Israel. It has bombed Yemen, partly in an effort to destroy those who oppose Israel’s genocide. It has provided intelligence to Israel that helps it identify targets in Gaza.

But the public does not agree. In poll after poll, they public supports Gaza, opposes Israel’s actions, and opposes the British government support for those actions. The government’s response to this criticism and the protests that inevitably follow has been a police one. They cannot win the argument, so they demonise and criminalise their opponents. They have treated protestors as terrorists.

That is why we should all support those who have been on hunger or other strikes. How they have been treated is a moral outrage. They are fighting for all our rights to protest. And they are fighting to stop the genocide in Gaza. They deserve the support of every decent human being.“

An email template to send to Amy.frost@justice.gov.uk

For the attention of HMP Wormwood Scrubs prison governor Amy Frost,

Subject: Meet with hunger striker Muhammed Umer Khalid

I am writing to you as a matter of great urgency regarding a prisoner under your care, Muhammed Umer Khalid (A4415FH), who is currently on hunger strike. As the prison governor, it is your duty to ascertain Umer’s reasons for food refusal and support him in understanding and resolving the situation which you have thus far failed to do. It is imperative that you fulfil your duty and arrange a meeting with him immediately to discuss his concerns, in order to end his hunger strike safely.

Umer has warned if you fail to fulfil your responsibility as prison food refusal policy dictates, he will go on a thirst strike on Saturday 24th January 2026.
The urgency of this situation and the threat to his life, which is in your hands, cannot be understated.

I remind you that Umer resumed his hunger strike after a short pause at Christmas, which is extremely dangerous given he suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy.

His demands are very reasonable and there is no reason why you would refuse to meet with him, putting his life at risk.

Umer has been held on remand since June 2025 in appalling conditions, and will face over a year and a half in prison before facing trial. He is not convicted of any crime and has notably suffered extreme and consistent religious oppression in prison along with a violation of his welfare rights and an increase in prison censorship without justification.

You once said, “I have a really strong desire to make a meaningful difference, which is what ultimately drew me to this work. The prison service has allowed me to channel that motivation in ways I never expected.”

You now have an opportunity here to make a meaningful difference for Umer by simply meeting him. Why are you refusing to do so?

I urge you to arrange a meeting with him urgently in order to end his hunger strike safely.

Sincerely,

To the Home Secretary, 

We are writing on behalf of Prisoners for Palestine in Britain regarding the last remaining hunger striker, Umer Khalid, currently being held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Umer has been on hunger strike for 9 days after resuming his hunger strike on 10th January 2026 following a short pause. He has warned that he will escalate his action to a thirst strike as of Saturday 24th January, should the government continue to refuse a meeting. 

Despite numerous hospitalisations, growing public pressure, and even international support in addition to some individuals entering into their eighth week of hunger strike, you have refused to engage and have ignored all attempts at dialogue in order to consider the health and safety of individuals and ensure they avoid being harmed. Concerned members of the medical community have written to the Health and Justice Commission to the NHS; and in Derry district council, a motion has been passed to support the hunger strikers, express concern for their wellbeing,  and also denounce the proscription of Palestine Action. 

During the hunger strike, there has been consistent medical neglect, harassment and degrading treatment by prison staff including prison governors towards the hunger strikers. There are multiple instances of the prison administration in the various prisons breaking national prison regulations. All of this is closely monitored and logged by us.

Today, we write to reaffirm that our demands are clear. We will not be dissuaded by your silence, as support for the hunger strike grows both here in Britain and internationally. It is your duty as a public servant to act in the interests of the citizens of this country, and by failing to do so you are abdicating responsibility, and we will hold you to account.

It is morally and legally imperative that the government immediately fulfils the following demands in order to end the hunger and thirst strike:

1. End all censorship 

We demand to be able to send and receive communications without restriction, surveillance, or interference from the prison administration. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right that is vital for prisoners, whose voices are already systematically silenced. Censorship inside prisons is a tool of control used to punish resistance. Letters, phone calls, political statements, books and all other forms of expression must be respected. 

2. Immediate bail

We demand that we be released from custody while awaiting trial. Holding people on remand, in some cases indefinitely, is a deliberate abuse of power, used to punish prisoners before they have even faced a court or been convicted of any crime. Some of us will have been imprisoned for nearly two years without a conviction. The right to a fair trial must include the right to prepare for it in freedom, not behind bars.

3. Re-open the Gaza inquiry

On 4 June 2025, Jeremy Corbyn MP introduced a bill into the UK House of Commons calling on the government to establish an independent inquiry into UK involvement in Israeli military operations in Gaza, including the supply of weapons, surveillance aircraft and use of Royal Airforce bases.

At the second reading on 4 July 2025, the government rejected this bill and refused to establish such an inquiry. The public deserves to know the full scale of their government’s participation in genocide.

4. Release surveillance footage from RAF spy flights the night of the killing of British aid workers

Three British aid workers were killed in a Israeli strike in Gaza, in April 2024.

John Chapman, 57, James Henderson, 33, and James Kirby, 47, were among the seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in the strike. 

They were travelling with a convoy that had just unloaded more than 100 tonnes of food aid brought from overseas, according to the charity. 

All three vehicles in the convoy were hit while leaving a warehouse in Deir al-Balah, south of Gaza City. 

Rishi Sunak, prime minister at time, said the deaths “appalled” him. Why have they never seen justice, or even a clear answer as to how and why this happened? 

5. Full disclosure of damage figures from Brize Norton action

We call on the government to open the dialogue for discussion and negotiations to commence in order to avoid any further harm being inflicted on citizens of your country through your inaction and in order for the hunger strike to be ended safely.

Please respond to this letter as soon as possible.

22-year-old Umer Khalid, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Limb-Girdle Musclar Dystrophy, and is currently being held on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, is the last remaining hunger striker to participate in the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strike campaign. Umer, now on day nine of his hunger strike, resuming after a short pause on 10th January 2026, has warned he will undertake a thirst strike if the government continues to refuse a meeting within the next five days. 

Umer, who is from Manchester, has been charged in connection to an action that took place at the RAF Brize Norton site, where two military aircrafts were decommissioned allegedly causing millions of pounds worth of damage. It was after this action took place that the then foreign secretary Yvette Cooper made the controversial decision to proscribe Palestine Action in the UK, making support for it a terrorist offence. Significantly, he has suffered severe mistreatment at the hands of the prison since being held on remand in July 2025 last year. 

The fact that Umer suffers from Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy severely increases the risks associated with his hunger strike action. He was initially on hunger strike for twelve days before becoming seriously unwell and unable to walk, and has now stated that he intends to go on a thirst strike if his demands are not met.  He has also asked prison staff not to intervene in the event he becomes unconscious.

Prisoners for Palestine have documented that: 

“Umer has continuously been subjected to violent abuse by the prison, namely the abuse and denial of his religious and welfare rights. He was initially barred from showering or using a prayer mat to perform his prayers, and denied access to a Quran which the prison permitted only after public outrage. Denial of his religious rights has continued, however, with prison officers physically assaulting him, putting him in solitary confinement, cutting off his clothes and strip searching him for giving the call to prayer. His calls, visits and access to post are also severely restricted and monitored.”

In a statement, Umers friend expressed:

“It terrifies me that the government have been so incredibly negligent during this hunger strike, proving on multiple occasions that the health of the prisoners is not something that concerns them enough to act on their responsibilities or simply just meet the demands. But an even scarier notion is processing the fact that someone you love and care for so deeply feels as though they have no other options left, in what should be an unnecessary battle for basic rights and dignity. That the repression is so strong, that this is their only avenue of resistance left. And when you pair that with a person as determined, brave, and resilient as we all know Umer is, as loyal in his love for the Palestinians as he is to his family and friends, I just really pray that the government realise how absolutely despicable they are and start to enter some form of negotiation soon, insha’Allah. I am so incredibly proud of Umer, we all are, and we miss him.”

Naomi Klein, Angela Davis, Judith Butler, Sally Rooney and China Mieville join global scholars in declaration of solidarity with hunger striking prisoners for Palestine and Greta Thunberg

Dozens of distinguished scholars and authors from around the world have made a declaration in solidarity with prisoners in the UK whose long detention on remand on charges relating to activism for Palestine has sparked criticism from human rights organisations and UN experts. They include Naomi Klein, Angela Davies and Judith Butler alongside global scholars from a diverse set of academic disciplines, journalists George Monbiot and Owen Jones, and authors Sally Rooney and China Miéville.

Professors of Law and Jurisprudence and internationally renowned legal experts are among those who have added their names, including Richard Falk, Queen Mary University of London and former UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lynn Welchman, Professor of Law, SOAS University of London _, Penny Green, Professor of Law and Globalisation, Queen Mary University of London, Emilios Christodoulidis, Chair of Jurisprudence, University of Glasgow, and Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law, Queen Mary University of London.

Three of the prisoners, Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello are facing imminent danger of death. Heba reached 70 days without food on 11 January, while Kamran reached day 63 and Lewie, day 49. A fourth prisoner, Umer Khalid also announced on January 11 that he has restarted his hunger strike.

The statement wording also highlights the signatories’ condemnation of the arrest of Greta Thunberg on terrorism charges while protesting in solidarity with the prisoners before Christmas.

The statement, which is published today on the Protest Not Terrorism website echoes the slogan which Greta Thunberg wrote on the placard she was carrying when she was arrested on 23 December.

“We oppose genocide, we support the Palestine Action prisoners”

A spokesperson for Protest not Terrorism open letter collective said:

“This statement is a declaration of support for the campaign by prisoners for the respect of their fundamental rights to a fair trial, to prompt and appropriate medical treatment, to uncensored communications with their legal representatives and the removal of punitive and draconian conditions imposed by the Prison Service triggered by the widely-condemned proscription of Palestine Action. The signatories also affirm their solidarity with Greta Thunberg after her shocking arrest on terrorism charges for expressing solidarity with the prisoners.”

Writing in the Guardian on 7 January, George Monbiot said:

“The hunger strikers’ demands seem reasonable to me: release on bail; the right to a fair trial (they claim the government has withheld key documents); lifting the ban on Palestine Action; and shutting down Elbit Systems – which has supplied weapons to a state engaged in genocide – in the UK. All these things, I believe, should be happening anyway”

Professor Peter Hallward, one of the signatories to the statement, said:

“The UK is now perilously close to full descent into authoritarian rule. Ministers won’t even meet with hunger-strikers who are now at death’s door. Starmer, Lammy, Cooper and Mahmood seem perfectly ready to let this country’s most committed and courageous opponents of an ongoing genocide waste away and die. Now the police have begun arresting people just for using the standard Arabic word for ‘uprising,’ marking yet another draconian step in the elimination of what’s left of our freedoms of expression and of academic inquiry.”

Statement

We oppose genocide, we support the Palestine Action prisoners.

[List of signatories as of 12 January 2026, 8am]

Signed:

· Umberto Albarella, Professor of Zooarchaeology, University of Sheffield
· Tariq Ali, writer and historian
· Sandra Babcock, Clinical Professor of Law, Cornell Law School
· Étienne Balibar, Professor emeritus of Philosophy, University of Paris X, Nanterre
· Moazzam Begg, Senior Director of CAGE International and former Guantanamo Bay prisoner
· Chetan Bhatt, Anthony Giddens Professor of Social Theory, London School of Economics
· Patrick Bond, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Centre for Social Change, University of Johannesburg
· Ray Brassier, Professor of Philosophy, American University of Beirut
· Donna Brown, Royal Holloway UCU branch chair and NEC member
· Wendy Brown, UPS Foundation chair, School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton
· Susan Buck-Morss, Distinguished Professor, CUNY Graduate Centre
· Judith Butler, Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School, Department of Comparative Literature, University of California, Berkeley
· Alex Callinicos, Emeritus Professor of European Studies, King’s College London
John Chalcraft, Professor of Middle East History and Politics, London School of Economics
· Tanzil Chowdhury, Senior Lecturer in Public Law, Queen Mary University of London, Co-Director of the Centre for the Critique of Law and Society
· Emilios Christodoulidis, Chair of Jurisprudence, University of Glasgow
· Rebecca Comay, Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Literature, University of Toronto
· Tim Crosland, co-founder Defend Our Juries
· Angela Davis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz
· Jodi Dean, Professor of Politics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York
· James Dickins, Emeritus Professor of Arabic, University of Leeds
· Jennifer Doyle, Professor of English, University of California, Riverside
· Deepa Driver, trade unionist and academic, vice-chair of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers
· Haidar Eid, Associate Professor of Postcolonial Literature, Al-Aqsa University, Gaza, Palestine
· Harriet Evans, Emeritus Professor of Chinese Cultural Studies at the University of Westminster and Visiting Professor in Anthropology at the London School of Economics
· Peter Evans, West London College, Vice Chair UCU LGBT msc
· Patrick ffrench, Professor of French, King’s College London
Des Freedman, Professor of Media and Communication Studies, Goldsmiths University of London
· Verónica Gago, Professor of Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
· Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law, Queen Mary University of London
· Ian Gough, Visiting Professor, London School of Economics
· Penny Green, Professor of Law and Globalisation, Queen Mary University of London
· Greg Grandin, Peter V and C Vann Woodward Professor of History, Yale University
· Peter Hallward, Professor of Philosophy, Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy, Kingston University
· Vanja Hamzić, Professor of Law, History, and Anthropology, SOAS University of London
· Michael Hardt, Professor of Literature, Duke University
· Sudhir Hazareesingh, CUF Lecturer in Politics and Senior Fellow, Balliol College, University of Oxford
Marion Hersh, Senior Lecturer, Biomedical Engineering, Glasgow University; UCU Glasgow equality rep
· Owen Jones, journalist
· Ronnie Kasrils, author and former minister in the government of South Africa
· Rashid Khalidi, Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University
· Laleh Khalili, Al Qasimi Professor of Gulf Studies, University of Exeter
· Naomi Klein, Associate Professor of Climate Justice, University of British Columbia
· Darryl Li, Associate Professor of Anthropology & associate member of the Law School, University of Chicago
· Frédéric Lordon, Research director, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
· Ibbo Mandaza, Global Pan African Movement and Executive Chairman of the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust
· Tracy McNulty, Professor of Comparative Literature and Romance Studies, Cornell University
· Lina Meruane, Distinguished Writer in Residence, New York University
· Sandro Mezzadra, Professor of Political Theory, University of Bologna
· China Miéville, Salvage
· George Monbiot, journalist and environmental activist
· Vittorio Morfino, Professor of Philosophy, University of Milano Bicocca
· Karma Nabulsi, Professor Emerita of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford
· Eva Nanopoulos, Reader in Law, Queen Mary University of London
· Saul Newman, Professor of Politics, Goldsmiths University of London
· Aisling O’Beirn, Associate Lecturer in Fine Art, University of Ulster, UCU Ulster Anti-Casualisation and NEC member
· Abdaljawad Omar, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Cultural Studies, Birzeit University, Palestine
· Ellen Owens, University of Reading UCU branch secretary and NEC member
· Christina Paine, London Metropolitan University UCU secretary and NEC member
· Ilan Pappé, Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies, and director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter
· Paul Patton, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
· Matt Perry, Branch Chair, Newcastle UCU and NEC member
· Regine Pilling, Branch Secretary Westminster Kingsway College UCU and NEC member
· Lucia Pradella, Reader in International Political Economy, King’s College London
· Rolando Prats, Communis Press, Chief Editor
· Nicola Pratt, Professor of the International Politics of the Middle East, University of Warwick
· Rahul Rao, Reader in International Political Thought, University of St Andrews
· Bruce Robbins, Old Dominion Foundation Professor in the Humanities, Columbia University
· William I. Robinson, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara
· Sally Rooney, novelist
· Jacqueline Rose Professor of Humanities and co-director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, University of London
· Catherine Rottenberg, Professor of Feminist Media Studies, Goldsmiths University of London
· Lynne Segal, Professor Emerita of Psychosocial Studies, Birkbeck, University of London
· Richard Seymour, Salvage
Kamila Shamsie, novelist
· Issa Shivji, Professor Emeritus of Public Law & First Julius Nyerere Professor of Pan-African Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
· Avi Shlaim, Emeritus Professor of International Relations, St Antony’s College, Oxford
· Nikhil Pal Singh, Chair, Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, New York University
· Panagiotis Sotiris, Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of the Aegean
· Elettra Stimilli, Professor of Philosophy, Sapienza Università di Roma
· Rei Terada, Professor Emerita of Comparative Literature, University of California, Irvine
· Alberto Toscano, Emeritus Professor of Critical Theory, Goldsmiths University of London
· Salim Vally, Professor and National Research Foundation Chair in Community, Adult and Worker Education, University of Johannesburg
· Françoise Vergès, Senior research fellow, Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation, University College London
· Sean Wallis, University College London UCU branch secretary and NEC member
· Jeffery R. Webber, Professor of Politics, York University, Toronto
· Saira Weiner, London John Moores University UCU branch chair and NEC member
· Lynn Welchman, Professor of Law, SOAS University of London
· Richard Wild, Principal Lecturer in Criminology, University of Greenwich, UCU Branch Co-Chair and NEC member
· Jessica Whyte, Scientia Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
· Jim Wolfreys, Reader in French and European Politics, King’s College London

Open letter to prison governors, prison healthcare providers, and commissioners at HMP Pentonville, Wormwood Scrubs, Bronzefield, Peterborough, Bristol and New Hall, NHS England Health Justice, CQC, GMC, RCGP, RCP, and hospitals providing care for the hunger strikers.

We write to you, once again, as healthcare professionals who are shocked at this government’s continued neglect of the health and rights of eight individuals who are currently – or have recently been – on hunger strike: Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib and Jon Cink (HMP Bronzefield); Heba Muraisi (HMP New Hall); Teuta Hoxha (HMP Peterborough); Kamran Ahmed (HMP Pentonville); Muhammad Umer Khalid (HMP Wormwood Scrubs); and Lewie Chiaramello (HMP Bristol).

Two of the hunger strikers – Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed – are now approaching their 9^th week of hunger strike, and continue to face the real possibility of irreversible harm or death. Heba has now gone 69 days without food. At this stage during the Irish republican hunger strike in 1981, 80% of the hunger strikers had died. Kamran, who is on day 62, was transferred to A&E for a sixth time on Wednesday 7th January with bradycardia and an array of concerning symptoms. We reiterate several of the concerns raised in our earlier letter dated 17th December, while amplifying demands for improved medical care and oversight to mitigate the risk of even greater harm.

The need for continuous, specialist medical monitoring

It is our view that the hunger strikers must be admitted and kept in hospital for continuous monitoring and specialist investigations, not merely transferred to A&E and discharged after a number of hours. This view is shared by Dr David Nicholl and Dr John Kalk, who wrote in The Guardian on 23rd December: “Were we responsible for [the hunger strikers’] care, we would refuse to discharge them from hospital unless the patient wished to return to prison, a stance that emerged after the 1989 anti-apartheid hunger strikes and became known as the “Kalk refusal”.” In the case of Kamran, we are deeply concerned at the recent suggestion that his cardiac physiology may be changing, and yet that he has not been admitted for specialist investigations such as an echocardiogram, further cardiac monitoring, or review by a cardiologist.

Lewie Chiaramello, the third active hunger striker, requires 24/7 access to life-sustaining medication for his diabetes, which is recognised as a disability under the Equalities Act 2010. It is our understanding that his diabetes reader and insulin have been withheld during visits, and during movements to and from his cell. We are particularly concerned about reports of sub-standard treatment in hospital. The use of restraints, and the refusal of communication with next of kin, has prompted some of the hunger strikers to reconsider transfer to hospital despite recognising the importance of timely medical intervention. That certain conditions should be worse in hospital than in prison is an indictment of the care provided to the hunger strikers in such settings.

The excessive and unnecessary of restraints on remand prisoners in hospital

The inhumane treatment of the hunger strikers in hospitals has not gone unnoticed. In our earlier letter we highlighted BMA guidelines on the use of restraint in hospitals, and the international standards that are often referenced in UK practice, which state that restraints should never be used where more humane means suffice. The proportionality test fails for each of these patients, who are currently some of the most surveilled people in the country.

Despite being assessed as no security risk last week, Kamran Ahmed was still classed as a high escape risk during a recent hospital transfer. He has twice been subjected to double shackling: shackled to a prison guard, and simultaneously cuffed wrist-to-wrist.

While some healthcare professionals have requested removal of the shackles, all such requests have been denied, with prison guards referring to their prison protocols. In several instances, shackling has compromised timely care-giving. During Kamran’s most recent A&E presentation at UCLH, healthcare staff were unable to cannulate due to the shackles, and had to call a specialist to cannulate between the fingers. This cannula eventually tissued, and rather than re-cannulating, the responsible physician opted to discharge him back to the prison.

In other instances, we are concerned that healthcare workers have not advocated for removal of restraints, ultimately failing in their duty of care as advocates for their patients. Such treatment is degrading both for the patients and also for the healthcare workers, who are unable to meet their professional obligations.

The as-yet unknown long-term physical and psychological effects of the hunger strike

While recognising that Qesser Zuhrah, Amu Gib, Jon Cink and Teuta Hoxha have paused their hunger strike, we emphasise that death is not the only tragic and devastating outcome of a hunger strike.

The physical toll taken on the body during the course of a prolonged hunger strike can be severe. The long-term harm and permanent complications can be difficult to identify, and may not become apparent for many years or decades. Deficiencies invital vitamins and electrolytes can lead to long term irreversible neuro-cognitive impairments and damage (this holds true for both those in a state of ongoing starvation and for those who are in refeeding phase). Neurological damage can lead to coordination difficulties, somatosensory issues, and cognitive impairment. Cognitive and neurological damage may be permanent, even when given thiamine supplements. To this end, we are aware that the hunger strikers were given oral thiamine supplementation (after some initial delay), despite evidence that oral absorption is inadequate in the starvation phase.

Severe muscle loss may take months or years to reverse, leading to sustained physical weakness and joint problems that may never fully resolve. Metabolic instability can lead to increased diabetes risk due to problems regulating blood sugar, reproductive hormone suppression, thyroid dysfunction, and other hormonal disruptions. Gastrointestinal problems such as chronic nausea, early satiety and abdominal pain can persist. Damage to the heart, liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system may be irreversible.

We note that the survivors of the 1981 Irish republican hunger strike experienced significant health problems later in life, such as digestive, visual and neurological complications.

The deep psychological trauma that results from a wilful neglect and lack of respect for life must be recognised, and may have long term implications for psychological wellbeing. Through the ongoing medical, institutional and systematic neglect endured by the hunger strikers, places them at heightened risk of severe and resistant complex PTSD, severe anxiety disorders, and severe depressive disorders. In combination with the above, cognitive fatigue, trauma and enforced isolation will significantly increase the likelihood of the development of long term disability and early death.

We also wish to emphasise the psychological harm that can result from prolonged remand (pre-trial detention). Official statistics and reports indicate severe psychological harm can occur from the chronic uncertainty and stress of indefinite detention. The deprivation of autonomy and inability to plan a future, is associated with profound anxiety and helplessness, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Remand prisoners – who are legally innocent – exhibit worse mental health than sentenced prisoners, with markedly higher rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation. After release there may also be enduring functional impairment, and increased long-term psychological morbidity.

A failure to ensure safe refeeding

As several of the hunger strikers have entered into the late stage of acute starvation, they are at extreme risk of refeeding syndrome and as such, any prisoners who end or pause their hunger strike must be taken to hospital without delay to manage the refeeding process.

We note that since Teuta Hoxha paused her hunger strike on 3rd January, it took several days before she was transferred to hospital. Despite requests that she could not safely manage refeeding in prison without the care of clinicians with the appropriate expertise, these delays persisted.

It has taken significant public pressure to ensure the transfer of Teuta and other hunger strikers to hospital. Additionally, Amu Gib and Qesser Zuhrah were discharged from hospital prematurely, despite medical advice that this was unsafe. This contradicts the Department of Health’s policy on refeeding, which directs that those at very high risk of refeeding syndrome should be managed in hospital to monitor fluid balance, electrolytes, micronutrients and vitamins and vital signs including ECG monitoring.

—

To our colleagues working in healthcare settings in the prisons, we remind you that your primary obligation is to your patient. We further remind you of Rule 21(1) of the Prison Rules 1999, which states that “a medical practitioner working within the prison shall report to the governor on the case of any prisoner whose health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued imprisonment or any conditions of imprisonment. The governor shall send the report to the Secretary of State without delay, together with his own recommendations.”

To our colleagues in managerial, clinical governance, and commissioning roles within NHS Health and Justice in prisons, we ask that you recognise that healthcare services in prisons lack the expertise and resources to provide appropriate care to the hunger strikers, and that any delay in transfer to hospital may be catastrophic.

To our colleagues working in the hospitals receiving the hunger strikers, we remind you of the Department of Health policies on the clinical management of people refusing food, and for those undergoing refeeding. These documents exist to ensure the safety of critically unwell patients. The scope for mistakes in continuous clinical monitoring and care is exceptionally narrow; minor errors or omissions at this stage could lead to serious – and potentially fatal – outcomes for the hunger strikers. The heightened clinical needs of the hunger strikers, and the complex moral, legal, and political factors at play, should prompt healthcare providers in receiving emergency departments to advocate for admission under a specialty service.

We, the undersigned, call on all parties in positions of responsibility and authority, to act immediately to resolve this inherently dangerous and fragile situation, and safeguard the health and lives of the hunger strikers. In the words of their lawyers, “We are concerned that, should this situation be allowed to continue without resolution, there is the real and increasingly likely potential that young British citizens will die in prison, having never even been convicted of an offence.”

Naznin Mirza Doctor

Esha D Nurse midwife

MAX BERNSTEIN EMT

Georgia Platman Lecturer

Abi Ackner GP

Alison McAuley Mental health practitioners

Marie Healy Consultant

Maureen Boerma Retired Couple Psychotherapist

Sarah Miller

Ken Freeland

Liza Goldman Huertas physician

Christine Haigh Paediatric ST2

Rupa Marya Physician

Sanae El hasnaoui Dental hygienist

Elizabeth Cambray Retired Registered Psychologist

Catherine Aldridge GP

Rodger Winn Dramatherapist (retired)

Ayalah Levy Social Worker

Scott Crane Registered Nursing Associate

Maysoon Badrideen Gp

Anjum Misbahuddin Consultant

Rav Bhandal Clinical Psychologist

Graham Bryce NHS consultant psychiatrist (retired)

JAnet Price Research

Roberto Beneduce Psychiatrist, Professor of Medical and Psychological

Anthropology

Yana Montoff Health economist

Marlene Coussell Retired nursing Sister

Lucia Seco Abad

Samir Dr. Muhammad Medical Doctor

Nerina Cecchin Psychotherapist

Hassan Mahomed Public Health Medicine Specilaist

Chloe Loftus Student nurse

Dale Oller Physician/Psychiatrist

Martha Miller nurse practitioner

Renee Nunan-Rappard Retired nurseBarbara Edmonds Physiotherapist (retired)

Carol Morton volunteer

Claire Rees GP

Penni Swinden Mental Health Worker

Emma Crick Clinical psychologist

Geraldine Vivian Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

William Park Retired GP

Tughru Mehmet Pharmacist

Louise Duncan Doctor

Jony Haines Registered Nurse

Kerri Foxhill Clinical Dietitian

Tanya Augustine Practitioner Psychologist

Ana Liu

Ula Boussabaine Retired consultant

Zainul Kapacee Doctor

Clare Tallis Physiotherapist

Rachel Crowell Patient Care Technician

Andrew Bates Occupational Therapy

Nazir Bhat Consultant

Norma Turner Retired nurse

Amitava Banerjee Professor of Clinical Data Science and Honorary Consultant

Cardiologist

Wajiha Ali Family therapist

Helen Lindsay Research

Elizabeth Price MD

Nabil Mirza Consultant

Harold Edmonds Medical Student

Rameen Nauman Student

Karameh Hawash Kuemmerle MD

Liz Moylett Retired GP

Chinedu Nwokoro Consultant

Clare Nickalls Ex prison Dr

Rathini Ratnavel GP

Wendy Feng Staff

Ashraf Mohammed Pharmacist

Julie Jolin Physician

Narmin Ismayilova

Rob Senior Consultant Psychiatrist

Chrissie Aslett Retired Nurse

Karry Muzzey Technical Specialist

Julie N. Student

Molly Flynn Nurse Practitioner

Katie Griffin Occupational Therapist

Ben AmadoDenise Gomez Doctor

Maryam Mustafa Psychologist

Tabitha Randell Consultant Paediatrician

Dominic Berning

SAARAH SULTAN Audiologist

Jasmine Shafiq

Sophie Roberts Consultant psychiatrist

Almas Shaikh Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist

Rima Al-Saffar Doctor

Mohsin Badat Consultant

Rama Hussein Research associate

Charlotte Monro Occupational Therapist

Falak Diab Midwife

Veena Aggarwal GP

Dorothy Spurr Retired nurse

Karen Simpson Consultant

Wajda Abdullah Speciality Doctor

Majid Khan Gp

Clare Cassidy

Zeynep Sena Unsal Medical student

scott gilbert Physician Associate

Mark Perry Retired Approved Mental Health Act Professional

Fatima Odetalla Healthcare worker

Mike Griffin Occupational Therapist

Mohamed Fawaz Medical Student

Jiya Kaul ST4 doctor

Curtis DeVerinne Medical Student

Nick Spencer Emeritus Professor of Child Health

Tasnim Momoniat Doctor

Diana Venegas Public Health Nurse

Uyen Bui Foundation Doctor

Saleh Mohamed Clinical psychologist

Urfi Sulaiman Doctor

Linda Green Physician

Aseel Zeidan ‏ physician

David Anthoney Consultant

Elizabeth Hubbard GP

Andrew Maufe Care worker

Rusen Ugursal Medical student

Hassan Atta

Aiza Mahmood Biomedical Scientist

Jessica Bailey Nurse

Hala Ahmed Doctor

Osman Ali GPSusan Anne Baird Consultant

Bassil Alaeddin

Molly McHale

Abdullah Nouri Resident doctor

Amir Hassanali Student

Shameema Begum GP

Mark Blunden

Aleksandra Bullah Nurse

Spyridon Symniakou GP

Diane Fearn Arts in Heallth

Ferha Syed Dentist

Aaliya Mavani Neonatal & Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Susan Shankie

Sarah Philpott Occupational Therapist

Seline Dilmec Doctor

Naomi Barnet Nurse

Marion Kenney Retired Registered Genetic Counselor

Mokhtar Soussi Consultant Physician

Pauline Bradley Retired Social Worker

Anne Read Consultant (retired)

Angela Willis Midwife

Soraya De Boni Clinical Psychologist

Mohammed Mustafa Pharmacist

Amber Qureshi Dentist

Rory Gibson Doctor

Husswan Wan Hussein Consultant

Rukhsana Lambert Retired

Sushrut Jadhav Professor

Kate Wheeler Consultant

Cecilia rix Nurse practitioner

Jo Hindley Retired midwife

Allan Graham NHS Kitchen Porter

Shabina Sultan Hospital consultant

Lynsey Bennett GP

Murad Umerov Consultant in Acute Medicine

Stephen Wicks N/A

Salle Dare

Kay Jordan Support worker

John Maguire Radiologist

Wazi Khan Health consultant

Hel Spandler Professor of Mental Health, University of Lancashire

Yasmin Yakub Teacher

Iffat Fatima Abdul Quayum Dentist

Iona Steen Hospital consultantJ Chadwicks Radiographer

Anna Jones Academic

Mo Shah Dr

Omaid Majedi Doctor

Alison Harris Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

Amanda Howe

Roberta Garrett Senior lecturer

James Scurry Psychotherapist

Zainab Sarwar Midwife

Christina Graham Retired RMN RGN

Anwar Khan Medical professional

Nina Fedorski MHWB board co chair

Mushtaq Shah Consultant physician

Kathleen Roche Nagi Humanitarian

Maia Forrester Psychiatrist

Rebecca Long Doctor

SHARON COYLE

Ish Damani

Tinotenda Muzaeni Healthcare assistant

Sana Psychological well-being practitioner

Kali Kawafi GP Trainee

Dr Tomasz Pierscionek Specialty doctor (former Darzi Fellow)

Tim Binmore GP (Retired)

Kamila Naz GP NHS

Catriona Turbet Consultant

Anandi Ramamurthy Carer

Nicola Grove Professor

Hafsah Hayat Dentist

Sue Shaw

Attie Black Medical Student

Sue Shaw

Jo Buchanan

Catherine Rennie-Nash

Mohamed Didi Paediatric Endocrinologist

Hebatallah Matallah Dentist

Sahira Dar GP

Emma Flynn General manager

Jean Hennings Retired midwife

Henry Marshall Respiratory Registrar

Mohammed Dallash Registrar

Amira Samy Consultant

Carmel Cadden Retired

Fiona Badaoui Housewife

Patricia Stewart Clinical psychologistAntigone Ikkos-Serrano Psychological Therapist

Neil Calderwood GP SpR

Sanaa Butt Consultant

Pinder Kaur Psychologist

Lizzie Farrell Physiotherapist

Louie Howie Physiotherapist

John Kay Registered Nurse

Tayyib Masood FY3

Muhammad Abdul Jalil Teacher

Sabin Khan GP

Kate Hughes Occupational Therapist

Anne O’Neill Retired

Jahangir Hussain Psychologist

Robert Greenhalgh Doctor

Rosy Short Clinical nurse specialist

Amanda Milligan Consultant

Komal Ashfaq Psychologist

Vicky Lowe Lecturer

Gretta Kearney Retired

Afnan Randhawa Trust Grade Doctor

Anna Balquin

Hasnain Visram Pharmacist

Vesa Popova

Bernard Kelly Senior Health Adviser

Elisabeth van Lierop

Rubeea Khan Registrar

Yenni Millar

Mohammad I Adil Consultant Surgeon

Harriet crook NHS Doctor

Shubhechya Shrestha General Practitioner

ALISON FLANAGAN Retired GP

Fojlur Rahman Psychotherapist

Sarah Elnaiem GP

Lynne Watret Retired Lead Nurse

John Launer Medical educator and writer

Elizabeth Leach Emergency Medical Technician

antonia berelson Nurse

Dan Lee

colm mclaughlin Maintenance

Judith Atkinson Primary Care doctor (retired)

Dr Alan Bellamy Psychology

Bernadette Hanley Retired Social Worker

Moussaab Shayesh Rdu operative

Mursheda Chowdhury DoctorPhilippa Whitford Former surgeon and MP

Marco Montes Reablement Practicioner

Glenn Wilkinson

Mursheda Chowdhury

FAISAL IQBAL

Karen Buckley Psychological Therapist

Jennifer Edwards Psychotherapist

Linda Orvis Retired nurse

Magde Albarade Anaesthetic doctor

Dr Joseph Simpson Doctor

Shenaz Patel

Afsana Bhuiya Gp

Orla Mitchell Biomedical Scientist

Rabeea Ahmad Specialist physiotherapist

Zayba Malik Personal Carer

Zainab Butt Radiographer

Zuhaib Keekeebhai Doctor

Sandra McDermott Retired doctor

Amy Packham-Smith Resident Doctor in Renal Medicine

Farah El-Sharnouby Resident Doctor

David Poole Infrastructure (NHS)

Juliette Ainslie medical student

Dale Core Nhs staff

Anne-Marie Gill

Shiela Puri Retired Paediatrician

Paul Bannon

Alison Smith Clinical psychologist

Tamara Ali GP

Ahmed Rana Researcher

Owen Cooper Retired joint Social Services and Health lead on Learning

Disability Services.

Shaheen Kauser Health Inequalities Manager

Alison Hagon Retired doctor

Samima Rahman Optometrist

Latif Hussain Doctor

Eleanor Jones Medical student

Tony Waterston Retired consultant paediatrician

Anne Darcy Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Denise Smith Retired Biomedical Scientist

Eman Ali Project manager

Sajida Kazi Doctor

Karen Reissmann Mental Health nurse

Izhar Khan Consultant Nephrologist

Mohammed Elmajee Orthopedic surgeonTasneem Oozeerally Health & Safety Facilitator

Abdul Qader Ismail Senior registrar

hameed rahimi Dentist

Rofaida Desoki Clinical Research Fellow

Liz Foreman Teacher

Harriet crook NHS Doctor

Jae Cunningham NHS receptionist

Tariq Mahmood GP

Kylie MCgrath medical student

Alison Hill Retired

Zubeir ALVI Teacher

Lauren Maw Pharmacist

Muhammed Siddiqui

Cath Kibbler

Raghib Ali Honorary Consultant

Jade Groves Trainee Clinical Psychologist

Claire McCue Consultant

Eleanor McNamara Operations Support Manager

Munirah Aznam GP traine

Sharonjeet Bains GP

Silvia Montoto Consultant

Gary Hicks Teacher

Lara Jehanli Resident doctor

Donald Bell

Kathy Morton Palliative care doctor

Uzma Tana

Eyad Darraj

Paul Devlin

Sajjad Ali Consultant

Heather Wood Qualified 1975 still a nurse

Rebecca Waterman Care Assistant

Geraldine keogh specialist nurse child protection

Alessandra Gentili HR officer

Kit Oi Chung GP

Sana Osman Doctor

David Campbell

Colin Morris Treasurer

Afra Celik Teaching fellow

Ali Zaman

Noreen Malik Orthoptist

Karim Rezk Registrar

Kathryn West Nurse

Sarah Ward

GEOFFREY BakerClare Cooper Retired Senior Physiotherapist

Paula Bright Physiotherapist

Navjot Bedi Retired NHS Consultant

luxme nadarajah Consultant

Tom Barber Doctor

Fatima Maryam Pharmacist

Jenny Amery Retired NHS consultant & former civil servant

Rob Gardiner Nurse

Nadia Khan Medical Consultant

Josephine Kearns Trainee clinical psychologist

Heather Stroud Retired counsellor

Susan Lyons Doctor retired

david simpson Social care worker

Victoria Sullivan Midwife

Sharifah Lee Concerned citizen

Eman El-Bahnassawy SAS dentist

Jazz Khanom Psychologist

Pinar Celik PhD student

Rosa Sauerteig Mental Health Nurse

Caroline Jones Doctor

Ashab patel Pharmacist

Justin Burdon GP Retired

Lisa Martínez Patient

Hannah Thomas Senior Counsellor

Raza Ahmed

Dr Brian Ryan Anaesthetist

Nazleen Muhammad Gowdh Consultant

Mohamed Elshaywb Doctor

Veronika Wagner Registered Medical Practitioner

Greg Pasco Senior Postdoctoral Researcher

Fatimah Kh

Helen Hills

Geraldine Campbell Counsellor

Abu Sidhanee Children’s Physiotherapist

Sandra Dyer Nurse

Patrick Hart GP

Karen McCarthy Retired health worker

Omnha Ahmed Doctor

Brenda skillen Therapist emdr

Clare Smart Mental Health Nurse

Elizabeth Moore Nurse

Phil Brookes Retired GP

Robert Marshall Consultant Pathologist (ret’d)

Mark Gray Registered NurseBrian Gibbons GP-Retired

Simon Challand Consultant

Rebecca Craven Retired consultant

Amal Elkafrawy GP ( retired)

Julia Clare

Lynne Chatterton Clinical psychologist

Daniela Webbe Senior Hospital Pharmacist

Uzma Mahmood Gp

Jessica Tweney GP

Kevin Chatterton Paramedic

Z H CT1

Zwe Ncube ODP

Peter Mccarthy

Kas Witana Physiotherapist

Oleksandra Kuslii Medical student

Jen Daffin Clinical Psychologist

Caroline Sutcliffe Psychotherapist

Mohammed Hatata Registrar

Faizah Mukri Medical doctor

Jan Marsden Mental Health Professional (retired)

Sabina Rahman

Peter Vaessen

H M Medical student

Aarash Saleh Consultant

Musab Abdalla GP trainee

Rajia Bibi General Practitioner

Matthew Vaughan Clinical Psychologist

Adrian Gilson Dietitian

Hamza Seth Advocate

Claire Miller Care coordinator

Tasneem Dunbar Radiographer

Roys Dooman Therapist

Pia Feig Retired Public Health Development worker

Mazhar Ul Haq Doctor

Hannah King Midwife

Ruth Brooks Therapist

Megan Griffiths Consultant Sexual and Reproductive health

Carole Allington Nurse Midwife

Andrew Morris

Elaine Carter Retired hospital doctor

Jibran S Qureshi Consultant Anaesthetist

Arshed Dadhiwala Pharmacist

Hind Khalifeh Psychiatrist

Hannah Vincent PhysiotherapistShareefa Goolamhossen Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Bryony Mew Postdoctoral researcher

Sarah Boutros Paediatric consultant

Ben Jackson UNISON Branch Secretary/NHS Occupational Therapist

qansa Omar Nurse

Barbara Sharp Retired nurse

Sophie Franklin Supporter

Omar Shafey Gastroenterology SpR

A Suleman GP

Sara Saigol GP Partner

Maeve Carey Teacher

Sarah Masood Doctor

Dr Ben Charnaud Consultant psychiatrist

Tariq Jafar Medical personnel

Renate Aspden

Andrew Wilkinson Professor emeritus Paediatrics

Jessica Lau Physiotherapist

Mohammed Khanji Doctor – consultant

Ben Buffham Orthodontist

Nadina Al-Jarrah Psychological Trauma Consultant

fahtimah hussain

Arwa Al-Robeye NHS Doctor

Kate Moberly Psychotherapist

Elizabeth Wait Health Promotion Activity Manager

Jyoti Wariyar GP

Fiona Crawford Retired Consultant in Public Health

Polly Henderson Project Management

Azam Al-Asady Practice Principles

Elaine Murphy

Dr Anjum Doctor

Edmund A S Nelson Professor

Deborah Davison Retired nurse and priest

Maria Wasty GP

Steve Hunter Specialist Physiotherapist

Sherif Elnikety Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Ciara O’gorman Psychotherapist

Fayaz Takolia

nauroze Warraich Medical Doctor

Caroline White Senior nurse

Wael Awad Consultant

Yaasir Mamoojee Consultant

Laura Sarria Jaramillo Physiotherapist

Blanca Fernandez Health Information Manager (retired)

Katherine wichmann ST4Abidha Afzal Health care professional

Razia Killedar

Afnan Morad Paediatric registrar

Sarah Alam GP

James Woodcock Professor

Catherine Fish Occupational Therapist

TARIQ AHMAD Consultant Surgeon

Adnan Siddiqui GP partner

Johnny Sweet Emergency Medicine Doctor

Xi Ken Soh Pharmacist

Gerard Hearne

Holly Rigby Lewenstein Staff Nurse

Claire James Therapist

Rafif MANSOUR GP

samantha jackson

Nadeem Bhatti Gp

ahmed habib Consultant

Barbara White

Syed Jung Approved Mental Health Professional

Fatima Dar

Miss M Khan Healthcare

Carole Beckett Clinical Nurse Advisor

Hafiz Syed Consultant physician

Nick Georges Trained Humanitarian Witness

Zahra Syed Consultant oral medicine

Helie Ahmed CNS

Mohammad Furqan Consultant

Mohsin Khan Optometrist

Mustafa Alachkar Psychiatrist

Clare McNulty Consultant

Aneeqa SLT Student

Kaila Alawi Nurse

Kate Attwooll Humanitarian Aid Worker & Trade Union Official

Trish Scanlan Paediatrician

saeed ghanim Retired NHS doctor

Zein Toukan GP

Swee Ang Medical Doctor

Adam Rumjon Consultant

Felicia Yeung Doctor

Mike Hope Brain Injury Case Manager

Elizabeth Murdoch Registered Nurse

Esther Perera Consultant

Sue Heap Psychotherapist and Supervisor

Michael HeanueLouise Muir Medical Student

Fatima Master Optometrist

Ibrahim Khan Pharmacy Student

Helen Chamberlain Programme Manager at NICE

Andrea Michael Art Psychotherapist

Helen Perkins Doctor

Helen Farasat Nurse

Susan Ward Retired Social Care Worker

Melissa Benyon Physiotherapist

Sadik Merali Gp

Anisa Islam Lead pharmacist

kathrin Thomas Consultant in Public Health

David McKelvey Retired GP

Ambreen Malik Pharmacist

Anna Kessler St3 doctor

Hannah Laurenson-Schafer Doctor

Suzanne Elgammal Consultant Surgeon

ABDULLA Alhasso NHS consultant

Nita Chudasama

Stuart Jordan Community Mental Health Nurse

shamique ismail Consultant Orthodontist

Nazneen Atcha CPN

Khurram Qureshi Dental Surgeon

Melanie Martin Senior nurse practitioner

Khurram Qureshi Dental Surgeon

Tahiraa Afzal DOCTOR

Cath Parker Medic

Edward McAteer Retired Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist

Chris Waites Clinical support worker

Shabih Siddiqui Medical doctor

Elena Abad Navarro Systemic family therapist

Osama Hussein Dr

Adrian Weston Retired GP

Roghieh Dehghan GP

Ilaria Pecorella CT2

Nicola Stoke Medical doctor

Rehiana Ali Consultant Neurologist

Ini

Rufus George Nurse

Tuheen Huda Consultant

Laura Necchi-Ghiri Retired counsellor

Sameen Malik Clinical Psychologist

Siobhan Lennon NHS Art Psychotherapist

Dr Matthew Sheehy GPTahnia Haque Trainee Clinical Psychologist

Siân Williams Resident doctor

Andy Hamill Podiatrist

David Currie Retired Consultant

Mandi Holmes Health Visitor

Sona Streather Doctor

Helen Jolly Occupational Therapist

Jasmine Fulcher Resident Doctor

Jesse Wireko-Gyami Trainee Clinical Psychologist

Yasmine Kamhieh ENT Consultant

Mangala Patil Mead Consultant

Lis Davidson GP (Retired)

R Hassan Consultant

Aileen McLoughlin Retired Midwife and Informatics Manager

Yasmin Sadiq

Ali Al-Temimi Consultant

Joanne McEwan Public health manager

Abu H Pharmacist

Asif Khapedi Doctor

Aysha Miah Pharmacist

Sanaa Muhammad Speech and language therapist

Brian Jones Senior Hospital Immunologist (retired)

gill millman Human

Martin Fisher Psychotherapist

Rebekah Judge Registrar

Annie Mitchell Psychologist

Zahrah Awaleh Healthcare chaplain

Kirsten Baron Consultant

Maggie Fay Registered Nurse

Paula Mulvenna Consultant Clinical Oncologist (Retired)

Tasmeen Ghafoor Consultant anaesthetist

Cate Bailey Consultant psychiatrist

Saqib Hasan Consultant

Judith Instone Dentist

Mark Boothroyd Senior Staff Nurse

Lynne Watret Retired Lead Nurse

Khushbakht Umair Doctor

Neena Jha Doctor

Venus Ameen Doctor

Helen Barnes Psychotherapist

Catherine Dyer Retired GP

Muhammad Memon Consultant

BILAL MUHAMMAD Pharmacist

Anne Wnhite Registered NurseHalima Muhammad Pharmacist

Lynne Jones OBE consultant

Kelly Brooks Senior Research Nurse

Asam Latif Pharmacist

H Abul-Eis Consultant

Kim Ford Chief Medical Photographer

Irene Grossi Consultant in Emergency Medicine

Mohammad Dhorowa Community Pharmacist

Sophie Murphy GP

Maziar Gorjifar Dental surgeon principal

Naomi Adelson GP

Armaana Ahmad Dentist

Madeeha Aziz Doctor

Michael Barrett Occupational therapist

Sadiq Darwin Dentist

Samantha Ibbs Consultant

Anna Moore Specialty doctor

Huda Atta Doctor

Roshanna Bain Registered Nurse

Huda Mahmoud NHS consultant

Elena Abad Navarro Systemic family therapist

Clare Sharkey Clinical psychologist

Lucy Thomas GP

Madiha Tahir Dental hygienist

KHALED SHERLALA Consultant

Jaffer Alibhai Pharmacist

Andrew Keen Data Analyst

Karly Corbishley

Attiya Variawa GP

Cristina Alonso Pharmacist

Sally Webber Retired Consultant Surgeon

Ahmad Ben Tareef Consultant Anaesthetist

Paul Eaton

Jasmine Anna Armour-Marshall Paediatrician

Majid Khokhar Dentist

Rosemary Kate Hughes Retired Occupational Therapist

Hend Rashed Resident doctor

Elizabeth Wake Community Sister

John mulligan Clinical Psychologist

Shohaib Khan Pharmacist

Alec Phillips Doctor

Ghaleb Ghaleb Retired Doctor

Caroline Barker Nurse

Naseem Sheikh health care workerPerviz Asaria

Jennifer Hammond NHS doctor

Emily Kemp

Rana Najim GP

Claire Fraser Retired nurse

Anne Sorensen Doctor

Mozam Hussain GP

Ronak Osman Dentist

Thanos Tsapas Consultant psychiatrist

Natasha Abdul Aziz

Basma El Wazani

Sultana Bhatti Occupational therapist

Zohaib Khan Dentist

Lauren Grunwell Teacher

Zahra Hussain Plastic Surgery Resident / PhD student

Katherine Anthony GP

Meg Graham Clinical psychologist

Miriam Al-Kashi GP

Serajdin Ajnin Hospital consultant

Nic Lee

Gill Moreton Senior Principal Psychological Therapist

Dr Sonia Allam Physician

Arabella Scott National Lead Nurse for Substance Misuse

Sukaina Hirji Doctor

Ann San Retired nurse

Zoe Timimi PhD student

Sabina Hafesji

Lynn Cochrane Optometrist

Jane Macaskill Retired Surgeon

Shida Khan Midw

Hayley Pinto Doctor

Jonathan Miller Associate

Hilary Neve Dr

Sobbia Gull GP

Omar Al-Falahi GZP

Hilary Neve Dr

Maryam Rehman Pharmacist

Sahar Awadallah GP

M Hewitt GP

Qaiys Abu Qaoud Doctor

Qais Nazari Medical doctor

Jehad Aldeghather GP

Caroline Lenoury Healthcare assistant

andrea needham registered nurseHilary Klonin Doctor

Julia N lki Child psychiatrist

Azhar Malik Retired GP

Monique Keersmaekers GP

Morgan McMonagle Consultant surgeon

Jack Czauderna Retired Family Doctor

Maureen O’Leary Retired Consultant Psychiatrist

Gerry Oncology Nurse

Mehroz Ahsen GP Registrar

Mazin Karem Doctor

Moyra Mcallister GP

Maya Sacre Nurse

Joanna Penning Speech therapist between 1989 and 1997

Nimrah Ali Optometrist

Wendy McMullen Consultant

Tracy Ogilvie Retired nurse

Gerry McCartney Honorary Consultant

Eilidh Cameron Nicol Consultant

Asad Khan Retired Consultant Physician

Rachel Blackman Retired GP

Ranjeet Brar Consultant Vascular Surgeon

Jon Dale Retired occupational physician

Jane Darougar Psychotherapist

Helen Mitchell Nurse

Sue Wedlock

Bernadette Wren Emerita Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Reiner Tegtmeyer

Anna Livingstone Doctor – retired

Alec Phillips Doctor

Awais Anwar Doctor

Maggie Palmer Family Therapist NHS

Tammie Cook-Duncan Lead Nurse

Jill Stoner Retired

Kristen Wagg TNA

Judith Alison Summers Consultant psychiatrist

Teresa Bailey Child Psychotherapist

Jo Hammond Retired

Stephanie Foster Clinical Nurse Specialist

Nils Rickardsson Olsson Clinical Psychologist

Kelly Burgess

Charlie Ataliotis Nurse

Joanne Miller GP

Cathy Troupp Child psychotherapist

Graham Ogden Professor EmeritusZulaiga abrahams physiotherapist

Sacha Brown Specialist Physiotherapist

Adam Glover Clinical Engineer

Nicoletta Dentico Director

Howard Worgan Operational Services Manager

Sonya Dabydeen Dr

Dr Marion Neffgen NHS Consultant

Simon MacLardie Community Nurse

Janet Braybrook Support (retired)

Busra Nalbant GP

Maria Cass Pain Specialist Physiotherapist

Juliana Woode Registered Nurse

Jim Fagan Community Nurse (retired)

Sarah Dunne GP

Mogdad Alrawi Consultant- NHS

Justyna Lenczewska Pharmacist

Abi Deivanayagam Public health Doctor

Nadeem Ashraf Consultant Colorectal Surgeon

Mubashir Cheema Doctor

Polly Brandon GP

Mary Todd Dr

james wilson RMN

Aara Essajee Nurse

Alice Jefferson-Perry Nurse

Jill Austin Dr, Consultant

Melody Parmar Speech and language therapist

Leila Khosravi Paediatrician

Ian Mckendrick Registered Mental Nurse

Steven Haigh Retired

Margaret O’Connor Health Visitor

Imran Shafi Orthodontist

Dave Croucher Staff Nurse

Mohamed Emara General practitioner

S Dar Dr

Muhammad Hanif Consultant

Victoria Holt GP

Shahab Siddiqi Consultant

Jacob Laing Medical registrar, UHS Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Jonathan Fluxman GP – retired

Michael Foulkes Consultant Psychotherapist (retired)

Raven Nielsen

Coral Jones Doctor

Ryan Weir NHS Dentist

Lindsey Mitchell Programme ManagerRebecca Nada-Rajah Staff Nurse

Muhammad Tholudin Doctor (Consultant)

Elizabeth Foster Retired General Practitioner

Mussadiq Master Pharmacist

Jane Kevern Retired GP

John Puntis Retired

Kathleen Cruise Nurse

Faiza Malik Doctor

M Hewitt Retired GP

Barrak Almoosawi Paediatrician

Jean Brant Senior Lecturer

Ahmet Kaya Healthcare management

Janet Heslip BMS

Mehboob Datoo Pharmacist

RANA HAMMAD Registered Nurse

Georgia Musson Registered Nurse

Kamil McClelland GP Registrar

Ramy Aly Consultant

Neda Hasan Specialist Registrar

Anna Nicholson-Lailey Doctor

Bianca Gill Nurse

Ilhame Atherfold

Danuta Orlowska Psychologist

Izzy Clennell Trainee Clinical Scientist

Fareed Bashir Consultant Psychiatrist

Oliver Spear GP trainee

Darine Ayoub Midwife

ZAINAB ARGHANDAWI Pharmacist

Winona Martell-Brown Doctor

Kavian Kulasabanathan GP registrar

Roshni Patel GP registrar

Terence Matthews Retired consultant

David Drake Doctor

Faieq Ali General Practitioner

Lyvia Dabydeen Retired Consultant

Carley Moore Nurse practitioner

Nadhya Qureshi Anaesthetist

Chris Fisher Internal medical trainee

Ali Bokhari Consultant Paediatrician

Ashal Uyanak SAS & MLR Doctor

jane Calvert Support worker

Ruth Speare Consultant

Shakira Akther Registered Nurse

Iraide Beascoechea – Artaraz NurseKhalid Aziz Doctor

Robert Mitchell Nurse

Rabiya Mansoor Pharmacist

Hecate Diaz Consultant paediatrician

Joanne Early Clinical Psychologist

Maira Vega-Poblete Doctor

Mary Kumarendran Doctor

Rita Fenning Health Vistor

Dr Nadia Dabbagh Doctor

Richard Moyse Fenning Physicist

Sahar Awadallah GP

Alba Bajrami Doctor

Peter Lillie GP

Sian Falder Consultant

Ximena Poblete Doctor

Karen Rock RMN

Ben Bouquet Doctor

Javed Iqbal Pharmacist

Gwen Keenan Clinical psychologist

Juliette Brown Consultant

Francesca Lennon Children’s nurse

Zahra Youssef GP

Shaheen Said Clinical pharmacist

Nosheen Chaouad CNS

Frances Bell Davies Specialty Trainee doctor

Alistair Wardrope Consultant

Khalida Huq Pharmacist

Irene Costanzo Senior Staff nurse

Rizwan Sarwar Doctor

Azelea Rushd Doctor – GP

Alice Clack Consultant

Megan Charles Psychotherapist

Daniel Hadley SpR

Andrew Schuman Doctor and teacher

Mr Abbas Esmail Manager

Navara Anjum

Saiqa Batool GP

Eman Alkizwini Doctor

Neema Jabbar Doctor

Paul W Registered Nurse

Mohammed Mohammed Doctor

hannah campling psychiatrist

Reem Shafiq Psychologist

Megan Lawton Occupational TherapistJordan Rivera Occupational Therapist

Farhana Rahman Doctor

Nabiha Essaji Doctor

Nida Aslam Pharmacist

Katherine Mahony Children’s nurse

Hannah Caller Doctor

Caroline Chan Gp

Alice Blewitt Resident doctor

Leila Cass-Darweish Psychotherapist

Leigh Evans Registered Nurse

Samantha Perera Consultant

BENJAMIN EDER GP Registrar

Faizal Musa Pharmacist

Lucy Adam Specialty doctor

Helen Green Midwife

Mhoira Leng Medical Director

Zoe Brandon Doctor

Jo Markham Mental health nurse

Sameenah Din Paramedic

Khaled Dawas Surgeon

Natalie Kirkhope Advanced clinical practitioner

Rhiannon Osborne Resident Doctor

Silas Webb registrar

Sian Thomas Retired

Charlie Whale Nurse

Julia Smith Health Promotion Manager

Mina Naguib Senior Clinical Fellow

Tim Flynn Psychotherapist

James Smith Emergency Physician

Olivia Brandon Doctor

Linnea Freear Clinical Scientist

Heba Muraisi is on day 56 of her hunger strike. She is demanding to be moved back to HMP Bronzefield.

Heba is left feeling isolated as she has been moved miles away from her family and community in Brent, London. The journey is too far for her family. Her mum is unable to travel the 178 miles from London to Wakefield due to health conditions, and hasn’t seen her daughter in over 4 months.

Regardless, visits are rarely approved in HMP New Hall. Even loved ones that are able to travel haven’t been able to visit Heba.

Take Action

Contact HMP Bronzefield today and demand they accept the transfer request. Contact details below:

01784 425690: Main number

01932 232300: Alternative phone number

charlotte.wilson@sodexogov.co.uk

bf.correspondence@sodexogov.co.uk

bfsafercustody@sodexogov.co.uk

socialvisits.bronzefield@sodexojusticeservices.com

HMPPSPublicEnquiries@justice.gov.uk

To the Right Honourable David Lammy MP

102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
22 December 2025

Re: Urgent concern – medical neglect and mistreatment of hunger strikers on remand

Dear David Lammy and Ministry of Justice,

I am writing as the loved one of Amu Gib, who is now on day 51 of their hunger strike while on remand for actions relating to Palestine Action. I write in deep fear for their life, and in outrage at the medical neglect, performative cruelty, and bureaucratic indifference they and others have faced under your department’s care.

This whole journey over the past six to seven weeks has not been easy. We have not slept. We have been terrified that they may die.

At the beginning of the hunger strike, the prison simply refused to acknowledge it for the first 10 days. This is dangerous, as there are specific rules that govern hunger strikes: daily GP appointments, regular checks of vitals, provision and monitoring of electrolytes, and thiamine supplementation. All of these were withheld for at least the first 10 days.

Over the past weeks, I have seen and documented repeated refusals by hospitals to admit or treat them adequately – from Kamran to Qesser to Umer – each of them non-white and Muslim prisoners, each handcuffed while their bodies waste away. Even when hospitalised, they have been kept in restraints for over 24 hours at a time. This shackling, when met with the visible frailty of starvation, is an act of deliberate humiliation. The imprint of those cuffs has become a mark of state cruelty – a scar that tells of how the system treats protesters for Palestine.

They are not a flight risk; they are so weak that Amu now needs a wheelchair to move around the prison. There is no justification for handcuffing them while hospitalised. They have received inadequate medical observation. On day 45 of the hunger strike, the prison had run out of electrolytes. Their pain has been repeatedly dismissed and disbelieved.

Repeated requests for intervention have been dismissed or ignored – from David Lammy, Jake Richards, Keir Starmer, and Lord Timpson, among others. The refusal to act, or even to acknowledge this neglect, highlights an institutional lack of care and a racialised hierarchy of whose suffering counts.

Three weeks ago, when my friend was at a critical stage, David Lammy claimed not to know about it. In those three weeks, we have been laughed out of meetings and brushed off by Labour MPs when we tried to have this raised in Parliament. This is astonishing cruelty.

These people are on remand – not convicted, still awaiting full legal process. They are weak, in pain, and visibly wasting away. The absence of adequate medical observation or humane treatment under prison or hospital care is not only unacceptable; it breaches fundamental rights to health, dignity, and life.

Our demands are simple, clear, and urgent:

1. End all censorship

Prisoners must be able to send and receive communications without restriction, surveillance, or interference from the prison administration. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, especially for those already silenced by incarceration. Letters, phone calls, political statements, books, and all other forms of communication must be respected and protected.

2. Immediate bail

All hunger strikers must be released from custody while awaiting trial. Holding people on indefinite remand is an abuse of power, used to punish before conviction. Some have been imprisoned for nearly two years without trial. The right to a fair trial also means the right to prepare for it in freedom.

3. Right to a fair trial

All relevant documents related to these cases must be released in full, including meetings between British and Israeli state officials, the British police, the Attorney General, and Elbit Systems’ representatives. The public has the right to know what arms are being manufactured and exported from the UK, especially when they are used to commit atrocities.

4. Deproscribe Palestine Action

All terror-related charges and “links” — and the use of the Prevent strategy against activists — must be dropped. Direct action is not terrorism. It is a legitimate, moral response when formal political channels fail. We also call for a public apology from Yvette Cooper for her smear campaign falsely depicting Palestine Action as violent or foreign-funded.

5. Shut Elbit down

The British government must end all contracts with Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons company, and permanently close its UK sites and subsidiaries. No taxpayer money should fund weapons used in genocide. The proposed £2.7 billion Ministry of Defence contract with Elbit must be cancelled.

It is terrifying to write this letter knowing a loved one is dying in plain sight while the state looks away. The silence from Parliament – from those we approached in good faith – compounds the fear and isolation families like mine endure. We are left begging the very institutions responsible for this cruel neglect to intervene before it becomes fatal.

I call on you, urgently, to act – to ensure these people are treated as human beings, not hostages.

Their lives depend on immediate and humane action.

Yours sincerely,
Nida Jafri, Loved one of Amu Gib

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To the Right Honourable David Lammy MP

102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ
22 December 2025

Re: Urgent concern – medical neglect and mistreatment of hunger strikers on remand

Mr. LAMMY has recently and regularly employed the aphorism that ‘Justice delayed is justice denied. ‘

It is therefore utterly astonishing that he has been unwilling so far to address a stark and stunning example of this by meeting himself the relatives and friends of those severely impacted by a broken criminal justice system. A system which has presently accumulated a backlog of 17,700 cases on remand most of whom are awaiting trial and prison population of 88,000 against a capacity of 88,980. This inattention to the domestic system of justice is matched by successive governments inattention to international justice and the rule of law especially in relation to the Middle East which is the very point at the heart of the original protest and for which there is no accountability let alone a night in Wandsworth prison!

Currently fundamental human rights in the United Kingdom are being destroyed in this quagmire of disinterest and populist politics. The most important being the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial by means of preparation and due process. There has to be an equality of arms which can hardly be achieved when a defendant is held in oppressive and lengthy periods of remand. As the families graphically describe the plight being suffered is that of a hostage.

The usual mantra of not turning up for trial or continuing activity – reasons often provided by the state – can be addressed and contained in all but the most exceptional cases where there is evidence to the contrary in the past.

This predicament derives from gross Government inaction – a basic lack of resourcing and investment accompanied by a disingenuous unwillingness to uphold the rights which are at the core of a democratic way of life.

In no way can juries be blamed let alone those who end up as prisoners.

Government takes action when it chooses to (early release programme) and there could be no more appropriate time than now with the life endangering protest by the hunger strikers. The delay is grotesque in some cases up to two years with trial dates being set in 2027. For the acquitted this means they will have served in essence a 4- or 5-year prison sentence allowing for remission. A true example of the words of Lewis Carroll uttered in the trial of the knave by the Queen of Hearts ‘Sentence first verdict afterwards ‘

The remand conditions are almost worse than those for the convicted. In any one day there can be 23 hours of lock up. Some have been denied access to relatives with restrictions on communication and religious observation and additionally access to books. The physical and psychological restrictions therefore over the extensive periods waiting for trial are not conducive to a fair trial which itself can last some weeks and often involve important points of human rights law.

Time for Mr LAMMY to remove his head from the sand and start taking sensible steps towards a fair and proportionate resolution. Otherwise, Mr. LAMMY and justice remain just a bunch of ruffled feathers!

Michael Mansfield KC
22 Dec 2025

On Thursday 4th December, 22-year-old Muhammad Umer Khalid announced he will begin an open-ended hunger strike, joining the Prisoners for Palestine campaign. Umer is currently on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs, where he had been held without trial since 22nd August 2025.

This was allegedly in connection to the action at RAF Brize Norton on 20th June 2025, when a group of protesters broke into the air base and spray-painted two RAF Voyager planes. Police say the act caused an estimated £7m of damage. 

Umer, who is from Greater Manchester, becomes the seventh prisoner to join the national Prisoners for Palestine open-ended hunger strike. He has specified he is doing so to support the first three demands laid out in the campaign, namely an end to prison censorship, immediate bail, and the right to a fair trial. 

Like the other pro-Palestine prisoners, Umer has been targeted, often violently, by the prison authorities. His privacy has been violated, his access to books and visits restricted, he has been subjected to segregation on multiple occasions and has been refused permission to perform religious calls to prayers out loud. 

Despite three individuals now being hospitalised, and an additional eighth prisoner who is diabetic, Lewie Chiaramello, joining in a partial hunger strike with serious health implications, the government has yet to respond to or engage in negotiations with Prisoners for Palestine. As some of the hunger strikers enter their fifth week, there has so far been no acknowledgement of three official letters sent separately to the government. 

This week, Prisoners for Palestine met with John McDonnell MP alongside family members of the hunger strikers at the Houses of Parliament to discuss the severity of their cases, and to see what more could be done to encourage dialogue between the government and the campaign group. John McDonnell stated he was “really worried about their lives” in an interview about the hunger strikers with The Canary news outlet. 

Doctor James Smith, one of the many medical professionals who signed an open letter to the Health and Justice commission to the NHS, states:

“Six prisoners have been on hunger strike for between 25 and 33 days. The health of all of the political prisoners has deteriorated rapidly in recent days, and 3 have been hospitalised in serious conditions. It is clear they are not receiving even the minimum standard of care required for people on hunger strike in prison. All six require immediate and comprehensive medical care, and political intervention to protect their human rights.”