Pro-Palestine activists staged a dramatic protest at the United Kingdom’s Labour Party offices in London, covering the buildings in red paint and breaking windows in solidarity with prisoners currently on hunger strike in British jails. The demonstration was organized by the group Justice for the Hunger Strikers, which condemned the UK government for failing to engage with the detainees’ demands.
Hunger Strike Enters Critical Stage
The hunger strike involves eight detainees held in multiple prisons across England. Four of them—Heba Muraisi, Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello—remain on strike, with their fast reaching critical stages:
- Heba Muraisi: Day 57, held in West Yorkshire
- Teuta Hoxha: Day 51
- Kamran Ahmed: Day 50
- Lewie Chiaramello: Day 36
Hoxha and Ahmed have previously required hospitalization due to the severity of their strikes. Muraisi, in a statement shared with Al Jazeera, highlighted her frustration:
“I’ve been force-fed repression and I’m stuffed with rage. I am bringing acute awareness to the unjust application of UK laws by our government.”
The four other detainees have temporarily ended their hunger strike but plan to resume in the new year, according to campaigners.
Background: Alleged Offenses and Detention
The detainees are members of Palestine Action and were charged with crimes including burglary and violent disorder for alleged involvement in break-ins at the UK subsidiary of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems in Bristol and at an RAF base in Oxfordshire.
Although Palestine Action was later designated a proscribed organization under UK anti-terrorism laws, the detainees were charged prior to the designation. They face extended pretrial detention of over a year—well beyond the UK’s usual six-month limit—with trials expected between April 2026 and January 2027.
Detainees’ Demands
The hunger strikers’ demands include:
- Release on bail
- An end to interference with mail and reading materials
- Access to fair trials
- De-proscription of Palestine Action
- Transfer of Muraisi closer to her family at HMP Bronzefield
- Lifting non-association orders between prisoners
- Access to prison activities and educational courses
Government Response
The Labour government has so far refused to engage directly with the detainees or their legal representatives. James Timpson, UK Minister of State for Prisons, stated:
“We are very experienced at dealing with hunger strikes… We have a justice system based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system.”
Lawyers for the detainees have initiated legal proceedings, alleging that the government has failed to uphold its own prison safety policies. The detainees and their representatives have reportedly sent multiple letters to Justice Secretary David Lammy, which remain unanswered.
International Concern and Solidarity
The hunger strike has drawn attention both nationally and internationally. Campaigners describe it as the largest hunger strike in Britain since the 1981 Irish hunger strikes, inspiring hundreds of solidarity demonstrations across the country.
A group of United Nations experts, including Gina Romero and Francesca Albanese, expressed alarm over the detainees’ treatment:
“Hunger strike is often a measure of last resort by people who believe that their rights to protest and effective remedy have been exhausted. The state’s duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished.”
Additionally, over 800 doctors have signed a letter warning of the detainees’ extreme risk of organ failure, irreversible neurological damage, cardiac arrhythmias, and death, urging immediate government intervention.
Protests Target UK Labour Party
Activists targeted Labour Party offices in London, arguing the government’s inaction contributed to the hunger strike. Red paint and broken windows symbolized the detainees’ plight and the growing frustration of campaigners.
Justice for the Hunger Strikers criticized the government for ignoring two weeks of advance notice about the hunger strike, stressing that the current situation could result in fatalities.
Broader Implications
The hunger strike has reignited debate over human rights, fair trials, and pretrial detention in the UK. Advocates argue that prolonged detention without adequate engagement or recourse violates international norms and domestic legal standards. The case also draws attention to the ongoing political tensions surrounding Palestinian activism in the UK.
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