Palestine Action hunger strikers near death intent' on continuing protests

"Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed, Palestine Action-linked British activists on the brink of death, are determined to keep up their prison hunger strike until their demands are met, their friends and relatives have told Al Jazeera. They have refused food for 67 and 60 days, respectively, as part of a rolling protest that began in November. Five of the eight individuals who have participated overall have ended their hunger strikes over health fears."

"Muraisi, the longest fasting member of the group, looks very pale and thin, said her friend Amareen Afzal, who visited the 31-year-old on Wednesday. Her cheekbones are quite prominent. She looks quite emaciated. Muraisi is reportedly suffering from muscle spasms, breathlessness, severe pain and a low white blood cell count. She has been admitted to hospital three times over the past nine weeks."

"The group of remand prisoners are being held over their alleged involvement in break-ins at the UK subsidiary of the Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems in Bristol and a Royal Air Force (RAF) base in Oxfordshire. They deny the charges against them. Their protest demands include bail, the right to a fair trial and the de-proscription of Palestine Action, which the UK in July designated as a terrorist organisation, putting it on par with ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda."

Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed have refused food for 67 and 60 days respectively as part of a rolling protest that began in November. Five of eight participants have ended their hunger strikes over health fears. A third prisoner, Lewie Chiaramello, is also refusing food. Muraisi has been pale, thin and emaciated, suffering muscle spasms, breathlessness, severe pain and a low white blood cell count, and has been admitted to hospital three times in nine weeks. Observers report a decline in her memory and conversational engagement. The group deny charges of break-ins at Elbit Systems' UK subsidiary and an RAF base. Their demands include bail, a fair trial, de-proscription of Palestine Action and closure of Elbit sites; the government has so far refused to meet the demands.

Read at www.aljazeera.com