For the second day this week, Portsmouth South constituents have demonstrated outside their MP Stephen Morgan’s office. George Hibberd reports.
The protestors are demanding that Morgan, a member of Labour Friends of Israel and a recipient of financial assistance from the state of Israel, joins their call for Justice Secretary David Lammy to meet with the legal representatives of the Palestine Action hunger strikers.
Four of the original eight Palestine Action detainees remain on hunger strike in UK prisons, with the other four pausing their strike citing serious health concerns. The remaining hunger strikers remain vulnerable. Heba Muraisi, who is on day 59 of her strike, is losing the
ability to form sentences and cannot sleep on her side due to severe pain.
Protests have erupted in the past few days outside HMP New Hall where Heba is being held on remand pending trial. She is demanding to be moved back to HMP Bronzefield so that her family and friends are close enough to visit her at this critical time.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has intervened in the hunger strike stating that the UK government is likely breaking human rights law.
Outside Morgan’s office this morning, local constituent, Stephanie Lewis, said, ‘I feel sick to my stomach at the thought that a Labour government is essentially allowing these young people to die at the behest of the Israeli government. I will not stand by and let that happen. Join us. We will be here every morning at 10am.’
Morgan hasn’t released any further statements in response to the hunger strike since 23rd December when he stated, ‘I understand there is a clear, robust and long-standing policy in place for managing prisoners who refuse food and fluids.’
But it is hard to avoid the concerns of protestors today that the hunger strike policy amounts to ‘Let them die.’
To find out more about the hunger strike and how you can get involved, head to Prisoners for Palestine.
Photo courtesy of George Hibberd.
