In a concerning development for human rights advocates, Umer Khalid, a British pro-Palestine activist, remains hospitalized following a critical condition arising from a lengthy hunger strike. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the Palestinian cause and the treatment of activists within the UK legal system. As Khalid’s family awaits crucial updates on his health, it raises poignant questions about the balance between protest, justice, and the values of compassion and support for human rights.
London, United Kingdom – A British pro-Palestine remand prisoner, Umer Khalid, 22, is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital, a concerning turn of events following his dangerous hunger strike which nearly cost him his life. His family recently learned that he was moved back to the hospital after displaying alarming symptoms that include a dangerously slow heart rate and organ failure.
Khalid last spoke with his mother, Shabana, on January 26, one day before he was rushed to intensive care. He had initiated a hunger strike lasting 17 days to protest his imprisonment, after which his health significantly deteriorated, prompting urgent medical intervention.
Days later, Khalid’s mother received confirmation from Wormwood Scrubs prison that her son was again hospitalized, although prison authorities have been less than forthcoming about his ongoing treatment and recovery. The limited communication has left Shabana deeply concerned for her son’s well-being. “I fear for his life,” she expressed in a recent interview, highlighting the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on their family. “Mentally, he’s probably stressed and distraught.”
During their last interaction, Shabana noted that Khalid sounded fatigued and was experiencing significant discomfort. He had chosen to refuse both food and fluids as part of escalating his protest, a decision she described as a desperate measure to draw attention to his plight.
At present, the UK Ministry of Justice has yet to comment on Khalid’s hospitalization, indicating a lack of transparency in handling such serious health issues among incarcerated individuals.
Khalid is facing serious charges along with four other activists, accused of entering the UK’s largest airbase, RAF Brize Norton, to disrupt operations in a protest against the arms trade and its implications for Palestine. The incident, labeled by the British government as a substantial property crime, has sparked debate over the classification of Palestine Action, the activist group involved, as a “terrorist” organization, a designation criticized by many as an infringement on freedom of expression.
In a related development this week, a jury acquitted six other activists associated with Palestine Action, who similarly faced charges following a raid on a facility operated by an Israeli defense firm in Bristol.
Khalid’s situation is compounded by his pre-existing medical condition, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which leads to muscle weakness and wasting. He was part of a group of remand prisoners involved in a rolling hunger strike initiated in November. All participants have since ended their protests, yet concerns about their health while in custody remain prevalent, as family members of other hunger strikers have reported inadequate updates during hospitalizations.
Khalid’s trial is scheduled for January 2027, which will result in his spending over a year and a half incarcerated prior to trial, significantly exceeding the typical six-month limit for pre-trial detention. This case thus highlights the intersection of activism, justice, and the urgent need for humane treatment of individuals fighting for their convictions.
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