A Palestine Action remand prisoner has been taken to hospital for the fifth time after 58 days on hunger strike, his family has said.
Kamran Ahmed, 28, is among four prisoners who are protesting the duration of their pre-trial detention, which has long passed the standard six-month custody time limit set out in UK law.
Kamran, who was being held at HMP Pentonville, north London, was taken to hospital for a heart complication on Tuesday, his sister Shahmina Alam told Sky News.
Birmingham-based neurologist Dr David Nicholl, who has studied prison hunger strikes for two decades, says the Palestine Action prisoners could be at risk of death.
“When someone has been refusing food, for 60-plus days, they are really at very serious risk of death, and indeed permanent harm,” he told Sky News, speaking before Kamran was taken to hospital.
Dr Nicholl explained that even without death, months-long hunger strikes can leave lasting health implications including neurological and cognitive disorders, dementia, vertigo, sight loss and extreme weakness.
“The biggest risk immediately is what’s called refeeding syndrome,” he said.
“If you picture yourself having not eaten for a number of days, you need to gradually – very gradually – increase your calorie intake.
“Because your body’s not used to suddenly eating, there’s a risk of getting very sick and actually people have died having stopped the hunger strike, but having developed refeeding syndrome.”
Also on hunger strike are Heba Muraisi, on day 65, Lewie Chiaramello (who is type 1 diabetic and has been fasting every other day) on day 60.
Teuta Hoxha had been on hunger strike but, according to the lawyers representing the hunger strikers, she has “paused her protest and has been taken to hospital following a rapid deterioration of her condition”.
They all deny charges related to alleged break-ins or criminal damage, carried out in the name of Palestine Action, before the group was banned under terrorism legislation.
By the time they are tried, all four will have spent more than a year in custody.
Among their demands is that Palestine Action be de-proscribed and the UK ends support for companies supplying weapons to Israel.
They are also demanding immediate bail or transfers to prisons closer to home so family members can visit.
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Prisons minister Lord Timpson said: “While very concerning, hunger strikes are not a new issue for our prisons. Over the last five years, we’ve averaged over 200 a year and we have longstanding procedures in place to ensure prisoner safety.
“Prison healthcare teams provide NHS care and continuously monitor the situation. HM Prison and Probation Service are clear that claims that hospital care is being refused are entirely misleading – they will always be taken when needed and a number of these prisoners have already been treated in hospital.
“These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage. Remand decisions are for independent judges, and lawyers can make representations to the court on behalf of their clients.
“Ministers will not meet with them – we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system. It would be entirely unconstitutional and inappropriate for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.”
