Acclaimed novelist Sally Rooney has issued a powerful plea to the UK government, demanding immediate action to address what she describes as the shocking mistreatment of prisoners affiliated with Palestine Action who are currently engaged in a hunger strike.
Authors Speak Out Against Prison Conditions
The bestselling author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends expressed grave concerns for the welfare of six individuals awaiting trial who have refused food in protest of their treatment. Two prisoners have been on hunger strike for more than two weeks, with reports indicating significant weight loss and physical deterioration.
Rooney stated: "The shocking mistreatment of these prisoners – including censorship and withholding of letters, prolonged use of solitary confinement, and years-long imprisonment without trial – constitutes a serious violation of human rights."
The prisoners' demands include improved jail conditions, release on bail, and the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action, which was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act.
Hunger Strike Participants and Health Concerns
The coordinated protest began on 2nd November, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Balfour declaration. Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, both detained at Bronzefield prison in Kent, were the first to initiate the hunger strike.
They were subsequently joined by four other prisoners across different facilities:
- Heba Muraisi at HMP New Hall on 5th November
- Jon Cink at Bronzefield on 6th November
- Teuta Hoxha at Peterborough prison on 9th November
- Kamran Ahmed at Pentonville prison on 10th November
According to Prisoners for Palestine, the health situation has become increasingly concerning. Jon Cink reportedly fainted during a blood test last week, while other participants are experiencing symptoms including nausea, light-headedness, brain fog, and extreme fatigue.
Legal Context and Government Response
None of the six hunger-striking prisoners have been convicted of any crimes. Gib and Cink are awaiting trial in January 2027 for allegedly damaging two Voyager aircraft during a protest at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20th June.
The remaining four are among 24 defendants accused in relation to an action at Elbit Systems in Filton near Bristol last year. They have been held in custody since November last year and are scheduled to stand trial next year.
Rooney highlighted that United Nations special rapporteurs had already raised concerns about the treatment of Palestine Action-connected prisoners in a letter to the UK government last November. She emphasised: "It is a basic principle of justice that no one should have to spend years in prison awaiting trial when they have not been found guilty of any offence."
The author, who previously announced she would use proceeds from her works to support Palestine Action, concluded with an urgent appeal: "I plead with the UK government to put an end to this appalling situation."
A Prison Service spokesperson responded to the allegations, stating: "We strongly reject these allegations – we treat all prisoners fairly and equally, regardless of background circumstances."
