Two pro-Palestinian activists ended their hunger strikes Wednesday, marking the conclusion of an motion believed to be among the many longest in UK history.
Heba Muraisi refused meals for 73 days and Kamran Ahmed for 66.
Muraisi, 31 and Ahmed, 28, started their hunger strike late final yr, as a part of a gaggle of eight imprisoned pro-Palestinian activists protesting their prolonged pre-trial detention and what they see as a crackdown on political dissent associated to the conflict in Gaza.
A 3rd hunger striker, Lewie Chiaramello – who fasted on alternate days resulting from diabetes – concluded his protest after 46 days.
Campaign group Prisoners for Palestine mentioned they’ve now all begun refeeding in accordance with well being tips. Muraisi and Ahmed are at present in hospital, their household and mates advised NCS.
The pair had been arrested in November 2024 as a part of the so-called “Filton 24,” a gaggle of activists linked to the now- banned group, Palestine Action. They are accused of breaking into and vandalizing a UK analysis and growth website close to Filton, west of London, belonging to Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons producer. Muraisi and Ahmed have been charged with housebreaking, felony harm, and conspiracy. They deny the fees and are awaiting trial.
Palestine Action goals to disrupt the operations of weapons producers related to the Israeli authorities. It was proscribed as a terror group final summer season, with the then-UK Home Secretary framing the transfer as essential to safeguard nationwide safety. Rights teams and civil liberties campaigners accuse the federal government of a grave overreach to clamp down on reputable protest within the nation.
Muraisi and Ahmed ended their hunger strike following the British authorities’s choice to not award Elbit Systems UK a £2 billion ($2.7bn) British protection ministry contract, marketing campaign group Prisoners for Palestine mentioned late Wednesday.
One of the hunger strikers’ key calls for was the closure of the 16 websites the place Elbit Systems operates within the UK.
The hunger strikers had been additionally calling for their fast launch on bail, an end to what they are saying are restrictions on their communications, the reversal of the federal government ban on Palestine Action, and a good trial. They allege that the federal government has withheld related paperwork associated to their case.
A justice ministry spokesperson advised NCS earlier this week that Muraisi and Ahmed would obtain a good trial and that the ministry had organized a gathering between well being officers and the prisoners’ attorneys on their healthcare final week.
“They face serious charges, and no government could agree to their demands, many of which relate to ongoing legal proceedings, including immediate bail, which is a matter for independent judges,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Muraisi, who was additionally asking to be transferred nearer to her household in London after being moved to a jail tons of of miles from her disabled and severely unwell mom final yr, will now be moved again to HMP Bronzefield, west of the capital, Prisoners for Palestine mentioned late Wednesday.
The group added that extra “victories” had been achieved all through the period of the hunger strike.
NCS has reached out to the Ministry of Justice for up to date remark.