A woman held on remand in a West Yorkshire prison has issued a stark warning about her failing health, stating she is 'determinating' and struggling to breathe after 65 days without food.
'My body shakes, breathing is hard'
Heba Muraisi, 31, from Barnet in north London, is believed to be on the longest-running hunger strike in the British Isles since the 1981 Irish prison protests. Speaking to Metro over several days due to extreme difficulty concentrating, she described her physical decline.
'As each day passes I get weaker, aches worsen, headaches are frequent and concentrating is extremely difficult,' Muraisi said. 'My body shakes, I get dizzy to the point of nausea and now breathing is getting hard. I am deteriorating in this cell, I am dying.'
Charges and Demands of the Protesters
Muraisi was arrested in a dawn raid on 19 November 2024 and is awaiting trial for her alleged role in a break-in at a research facility owned by Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of an Israeli defence company, near Bristol. Her trial is scheduled for June 2026, meaning she will have spent nearly two years in prison on remand before her case is heard.
She is one of an initial group of eight remand prisoners who began the hunger strike. Three others—Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed, and Lewie Chiaramello—continue to refuse food, while four have paused their participation. All face charges relating to break-ins and criminal damage at Elbit sites or a raid at RAF Brize Norton.
The protesters' demands include an end to censorship of prison communication, immediate bail, the right to a fair trial, the de-proscribing of Palestine Action, and the shutdown of Elbit.
Isolation and 'Denied Communication'
Muraisi claims she has been heavily restricted in HMP New Hall in Flockton. 'Visitors not being approved, phone numbers being rejected including doctors, emails getting blocked, my legal team has been ignored,' she stated.
She also reported being threatened with a forced move on day 45 of her strike and subsequently relocated away from her support network within the prison. 'To make things worse I’ve been moved nearly 188 miles up north away from my family and support system,' she added.
While she has daily calls with her mother, she said the prison cutting her phone line 'for ridiculous security reasons' causes unnecessary distress. She acknowledged her family does not fully support her hunger strike but understands her reasons.
Government and Healthcare Response
A spokesperson for Practice Plus Group, which manages healthcare at the prison, said they provide care 'in accordance with all the relevant policies and protocols'.
Lord Timpson, the minister for prisons, stated hunger strikes were not a new issue, with over 200 averaged annually in the last five years. He emphasised that prison healthcare teams monitor the situation and that prisoners are taken to hospital when needed.
'These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage,' Lord Timpson said. He defended the independence of the judiciary, stating it would be 'entirely unconstitutional' for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.
Muraisi, who has family in Rafah, Gaza, has vowed she 'will not compromise until all demands are met'. She draws strength from public solidarity and her mother's prayers, but admits, 'I’m terrified, I’d be stupid not to be.'
