UK Hunger Striker Heba Muraisi Speaks of Mortal Preoccupations During Detention

Heba Muraisi, a 31-year-old activist affiliated with Palestine Action, is currently being held at New Hall prison in northern England. She has been on hunger strike for 72 days, refusing food since her arrest on November 19, 2024.

In an interview conducted via a friend who regularly visits her, Muraisi stated that she “no longer feels hunger” but is experiencing physical pain. Her condition has deteriorated over time, and she is now suffering from muscle spasms, breathlessness, and severe pain. She also reported declining memory and difficulty concentrating.

Muraisi was arrested in connection with a break-in at the UK subsidiary of Elbit Systems in Bristol, which occurred months prior to her arrest. If she survives, she will have spent over a year and a half in prison before her trial date, which is expected to take place no earlier than June this year.

Eight activists, including Muraisi, have joined the hunger strike since early November. Four of them are currently refusing food, including Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed, who has not eaten for over two months. The group’s demands include bail, a fair trial, and the de-proscription of Palestine Action, which was designated a “terrorist organisation” by the UK in July.

The hunger strike has garnered significant media attention, with many outlets reporting on the largest coordinated hunger strike in British history since 1981. Muraisi stated that she is continuing her protest because she feels heard for the first time in 15 months.

Source: Al Jazeera