“Protest is a human right. We call on the government to treat these protesters with the humanity becoming of a civilised nation and society.”
By the PCS Union
PCS is deeply concerned about the developing situation facing eight pro-Palestinian prisoners on remand who are currently on hunger strike.
The situation is clearly becoming grave. Qesser Zuhrah, one of the hunger strikers, is reported to have waited for 15 hours last week before eventually being allowed access to hospital treatment on the 46th day of her hunger strike.
She is reported to have been denied access to an ambulance repeatedly by prison authorities, despite suffering from severe chest pain, breathlessness and abdominal pain, as well as drifting in and out of consciousness.
The hunger strikers have been denied bail. Qesser has been on remand for 16 months without trial, despite pre-trial custody time limits in the UK being set at six months. She denies the charges against her.
PCS believes that protest is a human right. We call on the government to treat these protesters with the humanity becoming of a civilised nation and society.
PCS has, alongside other unions in the Trade Union Coordinating Group, written to the justice secretary, David Lammy, imploring him to intervene urgently to ensure that the treatment of the hunger strikers is humane and to ensure that their human rights are upheld. We have urged him to meet with their legal representatives at the earliest opportunity to discuss matters.
- This article was originally published by the PCS on 22 December 2025.
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