Addameer's attorney Farah Bayadsi visited hunger-striking political
leader and Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine (PFLP) Ahmad Sa'adat today, 14 May 2017, in Ohli Kedar prison.
Addameer's attorney was previously denied visitation,
but received approval following a High Court petition submitted on 10
May 2017. Since the beginning of the strike, 17 April 2017, Addameer
requested several visits from Israeli Prison Service (IPS) to visit
hunger-striking prisoners and detainees, but the IPS
either did not respond or rejected the requests.
Mr. Sa'adat joined the hunger strike, along with several significant
Palestinian political leaders on 3 May 2017 including, Nael Barghouthi,
Hassan Salameh, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Abbas al-Sayed, Ziad Bseiso, Basem
al-Khandakji, Mohammed al-Malah, Tamim Salem,
Mahmoud Issa, and Said al-Tubasi.
Mr. Sada'at was transferred, along with 38 hunger-striking prisoners and
detainees, from isolation in Ashkelon prison to isolation in Ohli Kedar
prison on Thursday, 11 May 2017. Mr. Sada'at informed Addameer's
attorney that the prisoners are subjected to two
violent search raids daily, during which prisoners are forced to leave
their room, which is physically exhausting for prisoners due to their
hunger strikes. He also added that 10 prisoners are held in one tight
cell with one sink and one toilet and no fan or
air conditioning (with high-temperature weather), and each prisoner is
given 3 blankets.
Bayadsi noted that Mr. Sa'adat's health condition is deteriorating and
that he appears frail, walks and speaks very slowly and has lost
significant weight. Additionally, his face appears pale and he is only
consuming water. Mr. Sa'adat added that the medical
examinations carried out by the IPS are not sufficient, as only blood
pressure and weight of the hunger strikers were examined. Despite his
deteriorating health condition, Bayadsi reported that Mr. Sa'adat is in
high spirits and intends to continue on hunger
strike until the prisoners' demands are met.
Mr.
Sa'adat further added that the IPS imposed restrictions on
hunger-striking prisoners including a disciplinary fine of 200 NIS; ban
of family visits for two months; denial of access
to the “canteen” (prison store); and seizure of salt and all clothes
except one set of clothing per prisoner.
More
troubling, the IPS has made it exceedingly difficult for independent
doctors to visit the hunger striking prisoners and has provided
prisoners with plastic cups in order to drink
from the tap rather than the usually provided drinking water.
Addameer
strongly condemns such treatment, which violates the UN Standard
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which underlines the need
for appropriate medical care inside detention.
Furthermore, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Prisoners states that "Prisoners shall be allowed under necessary
supervision to communicate with their family and reputable friends at
regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving
visits" (37).
As the hunger strike enters its 28th day, Addameer Prisoner Support urges supporters of justice around the world to take
action to support the Palestinian prisoners whose bodies and
lives are on the line for freedom and dignity. Addameer urges all people
to organize events in solidarity with the struggle of hunger-striking
prisoners and detainees. Addameer further
calls on the diplomatic community to pressure Israel to immediately
allow for hunger striking prisoners to have access to necessary
healthcare and legal advisement.
Addameer
further urges all political parties, institutions, organizations and
solidarity groups working in the field of human rights in the occupied
Palestinian territory and abroad to
support the prisoners in their hunger strike and demand that their
legitimate demands be granted. Addameer will continue to closely follow
the prisoner’s strike and provide regular updates on the situation as it
develops.
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