Release the hunger strikers for Palestine now!

Zarah Sultana MP gives an update on the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strikers.

Eight people imprisoned on remand for alleged actions to prevent genocide in Gaza — Amu Gib, Qesser Zuhrah, Heba Muraisi, Jon Cink, T. Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, Lewie Chiaramello and Umer Khalid — have now been on hunger strike for 40 days. On 2 November they began refusing food in one of the only forms of resistance available to them behind bars.

Their lives are now at serious risk.

Two of the hunger strikers — Kamran Ahmed and T. Hoxha — have already been hospitalised. Even in hospital they were reportedly denied contact with their next of kin and legal representatives, raising grave concerns about respect for fundamental rights and due process.

Yesterday I visited 20-year-old Qesser Zuhrah at HMP Bronzefield. It was deeply distressing to see how severely her health has deteriorated, yet she continues to show extraordinary resolve.

The hunger strikers have set out five simple demands:

• Bail while awaiting trial, in line with the standard pre-trial custody limit of 182 days

 • The right to a fair trial
• An end to censorship within prisons
• The deproscription of Palestine Action
• For the government to cut ties with arms companies complicit in the genocide in Palestine

So far there has been no response from the government. When questioned by activists, Justice Secretary David Lammy claimed to be unaware of the hunger strike — despite my writing to him about the issue on 11 November.

I urge you to join me in writing to him now, demanding immediate bail for all currently held on remand.

You can find a template email here, and you can also sign a petition that will be delivered directly to David Lammy.

In solidarity,

Zarah Sultana

Your Party MP for Coventry South