The family of a Palestine Action prisoner on day 45 of a hunger strike in protest at her extra-judicial punishment say that 29-year-old Teuta Hoxha could die in prison if the government does not intervene urgently.
Hunger striker: Teuta Hoxha, a British national from Croydon
Last week, an appeal from Croydon trade unionists for action on behalf of her constituent was ignored by Croydon West’s Labour MP Sarah Jones, who simply passed the buck by referring the matter to her government colleague, the prisons minister, Lord James Timpson.
Supporters of the hunger strikers say that imprisoning people without trial for an indefinite period is another sign of how the Labour government has become increasingly authoritarian.
Hoxha has been kept in prison without trial for more than a year.
Yesterday, her sister was interviewed by Sky News, and told them that as a result of going without meals for seven weeks, Teuta now suffers from continuous headaches and can no longer stand.
“I know that she’s already instructed the doctors on what to do if she collapses and she’s instructed them on what to do if she passes away,” her sister Rahma told the TV news channel.
“She’s been on remand for over a year, her trial’s not until April next year and bail keeps getting denied.”
Rahma Hoxha, who is 17, said despite ill health, Teuta calls her from prison every day. The women’s mother died when Rahma was young. “She’s like my mother figure,” she said of Teuta.
“Teuta took care of me and my siblings and made sure to read us bedtime stories. She’s always there for me and even from prison, she’s helping me do my homework and revise for exams.
Free speech: Greta Thunberg was arrested today because of the sign she was holding at a peaceful protest
“My sister is a caring and loving person,” Rahma added. “It feels like the state has taken a piece of me.”
Today, police in London arrested Greta Thunberg because she held a sign which expressed support for Palestine Action hunger strikers.
Hoxha is one of eight people being held in prison on remand without trial.
The situation is regarded as the biggest mass prisoner hunger strike in the British prison system since the members of the IRA refused food in the early 1980s, a protest which led to the death of MP Bobby Sands.
The hunger strikers are accused of being part of a Palestine Action group that took part in an August 2024 raid on the Bristol HQ of arms manufacturer Elbit, who supply weapons to the Israeli government.
More than £1million of damage was caused to Elbit’s research centre at Filton.
The protesters were all arrested before the Labour government banned Palestine Action under anti-terror legislation. They all deny the charges.
Hoxha and the other prisoners are calling for an end to Britain hosting weapons factories that supply arms to Israel. They also want the de-proscription of Palestine Action, an end to mistreatment of prisoners in custody and immediate bail.
Under English Law there are custody time limits to safeguard unconvicted defendants by preventing them from being held in pre-trial custody for an excessive period of time.
Prisons minister: Lord Timpson has given early release to convicted criminals, but won’t intervene over eight hunger strikers who have been denied bail
Under this government, hundreds of prisoners who have stood trial and been found guilty of crimes have been released from prison because of the problem across the prisons system of overcrowding. Yet in the case of the eight Palestine Action protestors, they have been held without trial or bail.
Lord Timpson, who was the minister who oversaw the early release of convicted criminals, said of the Palestine Action 8: “These prisoners are charged with serious offences including aggravated burglary and criminal damage. Remand decisions are for independent judges, and lawyers can make representations to the court on behalf of their clients.
“Ministers will not meet with them – we have a justice system that is based on the separation of powers, and the independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our system. It would be entirely unconstitutional and inappropriate for ministers to intervene in ongoing legal cases.”
Hoxha was arrested in a dawn raid by counter-terrorism police in November 2024.
Terrorism charges brought against Hoxha have subsequently been dropped by the authorities, yet she remains incarcerated without being found guilty of any crime. It had been expected that some of the group might have their day in court this month, but trial dates have been pushed back.
This is Hoxha’s second period of hunger strike. She refused food in August in protest of the prison’s violations of her rights, such as the cancellation of her recreational and educational activities, the withholding of her mail and her removal from a job in the prison library.
She also reported mistreatment by prison wardens, who she says “constantly referred to her as ‘a terrorist'”.
That first hunger strike ended after 28 days, when Hoxha had some of her privileges restored.
Jolyon Maughan, of the Good Law Project, said, “These are people who have not been convicted of anything. They are being left to die – all without even facing trial.
“The government is refusing to meet with Palestine Action activists to discuss how their lives might be saved.”
Teuta Hoxha’s sister Rahma told Sky News: “The only form of resistance she has is her body and that’s what she is using against the state.”
Read more: Croydon TUC calls on MP to support Palestine hunger striker
Read more: MP Jones putting her Croydon constituents on remote control
Read more: ‘It was Jeremy Corbyn who won the election for me’ says Jones
Read more: Our four MPs are doing nothing to try to stop carnage in Gaza
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