Former Guantanamo detainee joins hunger strike in solidarity with British Political Prisoners as their health reaches critical stages

London — Mansoor Adayfi, a former detainee of America’s most notorious torture prison, Guantanamo Bay, has joined the hunger strike being undertaken by Palestine activists currently held on remand in the UK, some of whom have been on strike for nearly 50 days. During his imprisonment in Guantanamo, Adayfi himself participated in multiple hunger strikes and was subjected to force-feeding. Adayfi, Guantanamo Coordinator at CAGE International, is joining the hunger strike due to the critical stage it has reached, and as a result of the inaction and lack of even mere commentary from the British government. 

As the hunger strike reaches a critical point, there is an extreme risk of loss of life and serious medical negligence. Since 1:20 am this morning, hunger striker Qesser Zuhrah has reportedly been denied access to an ambulance for hours. Movement from the prison only occurred after protesters waited outside demanding emergency medical care for over 10 hours, with some still present in anticipation of an ambulance arriving. Those in attendance included MP Zarah Sultana, two doctors , and an A&E nurse.

Qesser has reported severe chest pain, abdominal and lower back pain, and breathlessness. Since yesterday, she has been unable to stand and requested urgent medical attention. Fellow hunger striker Jon Cink reported seeing an ambulance at approximately 9pm last night, which was allegedly turned away by the prison, preventing Qesser from being medically assessed. Medical advocates and healthcare professionals have warned that Ms. Zuhrah’s condition could become life-threatening within hours without adequate care.

Mansoor Adayfi, Guantanamo Coordinator at CAGE International, said: 

“The British Government has chosen silence and violence. They punish them, ignore them, and refuse to provide them with the necessary healthcare they urgently need. This is a death sentence. 

Hunger strikes are not a protest of choice - they are a last resort. The British government wants these men and women to disappear quietly. Today I am joining this hunger strike in solidarity. I do this now because I see now that Guantanamo is embedded in the UK prison system. I do this because it is our duty to support the oppressed and confront the oppressor. I am able to do it, and this is the least I can do to support them. 

This hunger strike is not about food, it’s about dignity and justice. It’s about remand being used as punishment. A system that believes that silence will protect it. I stand with the hunger strikers, I will not look away, and I will not let them be erased.”

[ENDS]

For further updates and information, please visit prisonersforpalestine.org. For the most recent update on the prisoners' health, see here.