British Activists Enter 70-Day Hunger Strike Demanding Bail and Fair Trial

Hunger Strike Lasts for 70 Days

Since mid-November, three British activists from the banned group Palestine Action—Heba Muraisi, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello—have been on a hunger strike to demand bail and a fair trial, as well as the revocation of their designation as a "terrorist organization" by the UK government.

Despite deteriorating health, the activists continue to refuse food, having been warned by friends and relatives that they are nearing death. Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed have abstained from food for 70 and 63 days, respectively, while Lewie Chiaramello has been alternating his food refusal due to type 1 diabetes.

So far, five of the eight participants in the protest have ended their hunger strike due to health issues. The three activists are incarcerated in different prisons, facing charges related to break-ins at the British branch of Israeli company Elbit Systems in Bristol, where equipment was damaged, and at a Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire, where two military aircraft were splashed with red paint. They deny all allegations.

The group demands bail and the right to a fair trial, the revocation of Palestine Action's designation as a "terrorist organization" by the British government, the closure of all Elbit facilities in the UK that produce military technology used by the Israeli armed forces and other governments, as well as the cessation of censorship in prison, including the withholding of correspondence, phone calls, and books.

All eight have already spent over a year in custody without trial, exceeding the typical six-month limit for pre-trial detention in the UK.

Effects of Hunger Strike on the Body

In the early stages of starvation, after a few days without food, the body begins to break down muscle to produce energy. As fasting continues, metabolism slows down, and the body loses its ability to regulate temperature. Kidney function deteriorates, and the immune system weakens, diminishing the body's ability to heal. Once the body's reserves are exhausted, it can no longer prioritize nutrients for essential organs, which can lead to less efficient functioning of the heart and lungs.

Unfortunately, a healthy person could survive without food for between 45 and 61 days, which means the activists have now surpassed this threshold, putting themselves in extreme danger.

International Concerns

Hunger strikes have historically served as an extreme and non-violent form of protest, relying on moral pressure to compel authorities to act. This practice has its roots in ancient India and Ireland, and in modern times, hunger strikes continue to be powerful political statements, often drawing international attention to cases of incarceration, injustice, or oppression.

UN experts have stated that hunger strikes are "often a last resort for individuals who believe their rights to protest have been exhausted." They also emphasized that the state's responsibility towards hunger strikers is heightened, requiring urgent access to medical care.

Kerry Moscogiuri, director of campaigns and communications at Amnesty International UK, described the situation as alarming, highlighting that it is "shocking that these activists have been forced to resort to such desperate measures to draw attention to their plight," adding that the crisis reflects a "flagrant abuse of anti-terror powers."