Protesters hold a candle-lit vigil in Wigan town centre in support of hunger-striking Palestine activists
A vigil in support of Palestine activists currently on hunger strike in a UK prison has been held in Wigan town centre.
Members of the Palestine Solidarity Group in Wigan lit candles in support of those staging a fasting protest which, after many weeks, has left them reportedly close to death.
Heba Muraisi, 31 has not eaten for 73 days, while 28-year-old Kamran Ahmed is on day 65 of his hunger strike.
It is alleged they are part of a group that broke into Elbit Systems UK in Filton, Bristol, in August 2024, in a prison van, wearing red jumpsuits and wielding sledgehammers. The alleged members of the proscribed Palestine Action group have been accused of damaging equipment in the factory, including drones and computers.
They have been held on remand since they were arrested during dawn raids in November 2024 and are due to stand trial in June.
The hunger strikers are calling for an end to what they describe as censorship, immediate bail, the right to a fair trial, the de-proscription of Palestine Action, and the closure of Elbit Systems UK.
Speakers at the Wigan vigil demanded that local MP Lisa Nandy use her position as a member of the cabinet and tell foreign secretary David Lammy that her constituents expect the government to act to prevent unnecessary deaths.
Dave Lowe, of Wigan Trades Council, said: “We understand that the hunger strikers are close to death.
"This was the outcome of the last hunger strike against the British state in 1981 when Margaret Thatcher allowed 10 Republican prisoners to starve to death.”
Protester Barry Conway added: “We have now seen the US administration label Renee Nicole Good a 'domestic terrorist' in an effort to legitimise her murder by Trump's paramilitary thugs, while Foreign Secretary David Lammy is visiting and talking about the 'shared values' of Britain and the US.
"We wonder whether the 'special relationship' between the two countries can now be defined by the callous treatment of innocent protesters in British prison cells and the killing of an unarmed innocent mother in Minnesota.”
Those attending also spoke about the fight against increasing authoritarianism in the UK, in America, but also the fight for freedom in Iran and Venezuela.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has assured us all cases of prisoner food refusal are being managed in line with longstanding policy with daily access to prison and healthcare staff. Prisoners are being supported to end their food refusal at any time.
“Before Christmas, we offered to facilitate a meeting between the prisoners’ solicitors and healthcare officials. This offer was accepted on January 8, and a meeting took place on January 9.
“Ministers will not meet with these prisoners or their solicitors. They face serious charges, and no government could agree to their demands, many of which relate to ongoing legal proceedings, including immediate bail, which is a matter for independent judges.
“By law, Ministers must uphold judicial independence and must not intervene in ongoing legal proceedings. To do so would be unconstitutional and would undermine the independent judiciary, the cornerstone of our justice system.”
The Wigan vigil passed off peacefully.