South African Protests in Support of Pro-Palestine Hunger Strikers
South African civil society groups staged nationwide protests, showing solidarity with pro-Palestine hunger strikers detained in U.K. prisons. The demonstrators urged the British government to intervene and secure their release.
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- Protests took place outside British Council offices and consulates in major South African cities.
- Demands were handed over to officials to act on behalf of the hunger strikers.
- Calls were made for both U.K. and South African governments to exert pressure for justice.
Hunger Strikers on the Verge of Death
The hunger strikers, held on charges related to anti-Elbit Systems activities, are reportedly in critical condition, with some having fasted for over 60 days. There are urgent calls for their legal rights and health needs to be addressed.
- Activists have been held without bail and are endangering their lives as a form of protest.
- Heba Muraisi, the longest hunger striker, has gone without food for 65 days.
- Detained activists have not yet had their day in court, raising concerns over justice and human rights.
Demands and Calls for Action
Civil society groups demand the immediate intervention of the U.K. government to meet the hunger strikers’ demands, which include lifting prison censorship and ensuring fair trials.
- Among the demands are the end of communication censorship by prisons.
- Activists are seeking immediate bail and a fair, timely trial.
- The groups also call for the de-proscription of Palestine Action and the shutdown of Elbit Systems in the U.K.
International Pressure and Repeated Protests
This recent wave of protests marks the second time South African groups have rallied in less than a month, reflecting the urgency and gravity of the situation. They insist that international pressure is crucial for a resolution.
- The protests highlight global solidarity with imprisoned activists.
- There is a push for maximum diplomatic pressure from South Africa.
- Activists urge for significant international attention to the prisoners’ plight.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
