LONDON: Hunger strikers from Palestine Action in the UK have launched legal action against the government, accusing it of abandoning the policy framework for prison safety, The Independent reported.<\/p>\n
A pre-action letter was sent to Justice Secretary David Lammy by a legal firm representing the activists.<\/p>\n
It came as several imprisoned members of the banned organization \u2014 including one who has refused food for 51 days \u2014 were hospitalized due to their deteriorating health while on hunger strike.<\/p>\n
They say they have sent several letters to Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, but have received no response.<\/p>\n
He was urged in the latest letter to respond within 24 hours as the issue is a \u201cmatter of urgency.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter added: \u201cOur clients\u2019 health continues to deteriorate, such that the risk of their dying increases every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
An \u201curgent meeting\u201d is needed \u201cwith the proposed defendant to discuss the deterioration of our clients\u2019 health and to discuss attempts to resolve the situation,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Seven of the Palestine Action prisoners have been admitted to hospital since the hunger strike was launched on Nov. 2, including 30-year-old Amu Gib and Kamran Ahmed, 28.<\/p>\n
They are being held in prisons across the country. Two members of the group have been forced to end their hunger strike due to health conditions: Jon Cink, 25, ended on day 41, while 22-year-old Umer Khalid finished on day 13.<\/p>\n
Gib, now on day 51, was hospitalized last week and reportedly needs a wheelchair due to health concerns.<\/p>\n
Dr. James Smith, an emergency physician, warned journalists last Thursday that some of the imprisoned activists \u201care dying\u201d and need specialized medical care.<\/p>\n
In a letter signed by more than 800 doctors, Smith said the hunger strikers were at \u201cvery high risk of serious complications, including organ failure, irreversible neurological damage, cardiac arrhythmias and death.\u201d<\/p>\n
The strikers are demanding that Palestine Action, which is classified as a terrorist organization, be de-proscribed.<\/p>\n
They are also urging the government to shut down defense companies with ties to Israel, among other demands.<\/p>\n
In response to the latest letter, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: \u201cWe strongly refute these claims. We want these prisoners to accept support and get better, and we will not create perverse incentives that would encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON: Hunger strikers from Palestine Action in the UK have launched legal action against the government, accusing it of abandoning the policy framework for prison safety, The Independent reported. A pre-action letter was sent to Justice Secretary David Lammy by a legal firm representing the activists. It came as several imprisoned members of the banned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":521632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-521629","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n