Writer Sally Rooney has urged the UK government to intervene and halt what she called the "shocking treatment" of Palestine Action-linked detainees who have declared a hunger strike. She warned that their condition has become a serious concern.
Six detainees awaiting trial are refusing food. Two of them have been on hunger strike for more than two weeks, losing significant weight and showing signs of physical exhaustion. Their demands include improved detention conditions, release on bail, and the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action’s activities.
Rooney, author of the bestsellers "Normal People" and "Conversations with Friends", said: "The shocking treatment of these detainees—including the censorship and withholding of letters, prolonged isolation, and years of detention without trial—is a gross violation of human rights. I call on the UK government to engage with the hunger strikers and meet their demands.
Justice requires that no one should spend years behind bars without being found guilty. Likewise, anyone held in prison must be able to read and write freely without interference from the authorities. Books, letters, and any reading materials should not be withheld or censored. These are not excessive requests but fundamental rights."
The first to begin the hunger strike were Keser Zukhra and Amu Gib, held at Bronzefield prison in Kent; they announced their decision on November 2, marking the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. They were joined by Heba Muraishi (HMP New Hall) on November 5, John Sink (also Bronzefield) on November 6, Teuta Hoksa (Peterborough prison) on November 9, and Kamran Ahmed (Pentonville) on November 10.
According to the group Prisoners for Palestine, Sink lost consciousness during a blood test last week, Muraishi reported fatigue, dizziness and nausea; Hoksa said she felt "very weak", and Ahmed suffered from confusion.
Rooney recalled: "As far back as last November, four UN special rapporteurs sent a letter to the UK government expressing concern over the detention conditions of people allegedly linked to the protest movement Palestine Action. Over the past year the situation has only deteriorated, compounded by the government’s unprecedented decision to designate the group as a terrorist organisation and prosecute political activists under counterterrorism laws.
I am deeply concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the hunger-striking detainees. None of them has been convicted of a crime. They are all vulnerable individuals who deserve respect and fair treatment. I urge the UK government to end this outrageous situation."
Gib and Sink are due to stand trial in January 2027 in connection with the damage to two Voyager aircraft during an action at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20. The other four are among 24 defendants charged over a protest at an Elbit Systems facility in Filton near Bristol last year. They have been held in custody since November of last year and are scheduled to go on trial next year. Both actions were claimed by Palestine Action.
None of them has been charged under the Terrorism Act, but prosecutors insist their actions carried a "terrorist element". Following the Brize Norton incident, Palestine Action became the first direct-action group to be proscribed under this legislation. After the ban—under which expressing support for Palestine Action became a criminal offence—Rooney announced she would donate part of her book earnings to support the group.
A spokesperson for the prison service said: "We strongly reject these allegations: all prisoners are held fairly and equally, regardless of their background."