First prisoners for Palestine hunger-striker, Kamran Ahmed, hospitalised

The following press release has been issue by Prisoners for Palestine, and is being shared here in full. 

Yesterday morning, Tuesday 25th November, hunger-striker Kamran Ahmed, remanded at HMP Pentonville for over a year, was hospitalised, due to his rapidly deteriorating health. Kamran was arrested in a violent dawn raid in November 2024, accused of being involved in a Palestine Action intervention at an arms facility in Filton, Bristol, owned by Elbit Systems, Israel's biggest weapons maker. During the action, Israeli quadcopter drones were discovered, and dismantled by the group. Eventually, 24 people were rounded up, using counter-terrorism legislation, and remanded in custody, despite not being charged with any terrorist offence. The first of the Filton 24 went on trial this week, while others can expect to wait until next summer, or later, until the allegations against them are heard. Kamran, imprisoned since his arrest, and denied bail despite being sole carer for his elderly parents, joined the Prisoners for Palestine hunger-strike on the 10th November, becoming the sixth prisoner refusing food. An asthmatic, Kamran has been suffering from dizziness, breathing difficulties, and chest pains, as well as low blood sugar and dangerously high ketone levels. After over a year in prison, on remand, Kamran who is nearly 6ft tall, weighed 74kg before joining the hunger-protest. When he was last weighed, this had dropped to only 68kg. On Friday, he collapsed, with low blood sugar levels indicating hypoglycemia. Kamran's family have heard nothing further, since he was hospitalised this morning.

Yesterday afternoon, supporters, marched from Pentonville Prison, to the Ministry of Justice, in Central London, in order to highlight the medical neglect which has led to Kamran's hospitalisation, and calling for the government to respond to the hunger-strikers demands. Despite the short notice, scores of protestors supported the heavily-policed march, with local people coming out to show their support. They carried huge banners reading 'Drop The Charges' and 'Resistance Is Not Terrorism'. According to people on the march, the policing of a peaceful demonstration was very heavy-handed, with several marchers arrested, including an elderly woman on crutches, who was tackled to the ground by the police.

Kamran's sister, Shamina Amal, who organised today's protest, said:

"All of this could have been avoided if the government would have engaged in conversations about the demands, which they are yet to respond to. I am angry, I am sad, I don't think there is words to put to the pain of a sister who was in a press conference last week stating that I fear the day I get a call to say Kamran has collapsed, and now I am living my worst fear. I stand by my brother and the demands of the hunger strike, the demands must be met, they are things the government should be doing and I am disgusted that the government has chosen to ignore the hunger strikers with no care or consideration to their sanctity of their health and lives"

In response to the treatment of the hunger strikers, a letter signed by over 100 medical doctors has been sent to the Health and Justice Commissioning NHS Team, expressing their growing concern over how the hunger strikers are being mishandled. Despite the indifference of the government to the hunger-strike, support for the prisoners continues to grow. Numerous groups and organisations have already pledged support, including Defend Our Juries, Campaign Against The Arms Trade, CAGE International, and Black Lives Matter UK. There have been solidarity protests outside prisons holding the hunger-strikers, and solidarity action by political prisoners overseas. Letters have also been sent to the government from MPs Jeremy Corbyn MP and Zarah Sultana.

Prisoners For Palestine designated today an International Day of Action. Speaking on behalf of Prisoners for Palestine, former Palestine Action prisoner Francesca Nadin said:

"Today, 23 days since the Prisoners for Palestine hunger-strike began, and more than 5 weeks since the British government received notice, Kamran Ahmed became the first of the prisoners to be hospitalised.The callous disregard of the prison authorities, for the health and well-being of the prisoners in their care, has matched that of the British state, with medical negligence being consistent throughout the hunger protest. To avoid further harm to the quickly deteriorating health of the hunger-strikers, it is imperative that the government addresses the prisoners demands, and engages with them, to bring the protest to an end."

[ENDS]