[Ppnews] 95 Days of Hunger Strike: Act Now to Save Akram al-Rikhawi’s life!
Political Prisoner News
ppnews at freedomarchives.org
Sun Jul 15 17:25:29 EDT 2012
95 Days of Hunger Strike: Act Now to Save Akram al-Rikhawi’s life!
<http://samidoun.ca/2012/07/95-days-of-hunger-strike-act-now-to-save-akram-al-rikhawis-life/>
by samidoun <http://samidoun.ca/?author=1>
Akram al-Rikhawi has now been on hunger strike for 95 days. He is the
longest serving hunger striker anywhere in the world. He is suffering
from numerous medical conditions, including diabetes, asthma, high
cholesterol, osteoporosis, glaucoma, kidney problems and immune
deficiency. Addameer reports
<http://addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=491> that “Prior to his arrest,
Akram received injections of Kenacort to treat his asthma, but following
his arrest, the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) did not allow Akram to take
this injection. Instead, it was replaced with injections of cortisone,
which is most likely the cause of severe complications, resulting in
additional chronic illnesses such as diabetes and osteoporosis, from
which Akram now suffers.” *Take action today to call for the immediate
release of Akram al-Rikhawi! <#letter>*
Akram began his hunger strike on April 12 of this year to demand his
early release due to his heath circumstances. He also has eight
children, and he and his wife are also responsible for the care of the
five children of his late brother. Despite his severe health
circumstances and his difficult family and economic straits and
responsibility for 13 children, his appeals for early release in 2012
and on June 5, 2012 were both rejected
<http://addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=491>.
He did not stop his hunger strike on May 14 at the time of the agreement
between prisoners and the Israel Prison Services because his unique
circumstances were not addressed – namely, early release on medical
grounds. Physicians for Human Rights were denied access to Akram for
nearly two months, until June 6
<https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150867264581502&id=164306561501>.
He has lost 26.5% of his body weight – and was already very unhealthy.
Akram has been refusing medical examinations since mid-May – and in
response, the cortisone injections have only increased. PHR has stated
that he must be transferred immediately to a civilian hospital in order
to receive proper medical care, and filed suit to demand he be
transferred – which was denied by an Israeli District Court on June 14
<http://addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=491>. Since June 16, he has been
refusing supplements and other forms of artificial nourishment that the
Israeli prison hospital has attempted to impose on him.
He has now been on hunger strike for 95 days. He is in severe danger.
International action is urgently needed to save his life! *It is urgent
that we act now to free Akram Rikhawi and secure his much-needed medical
care. <#letter>*
Akram al-Rikhawi is not the only Palestinian prisoner currently on
hunger strike:
* Samer al-Barq
<http://samidoun.ca/2012/06/urgent-act-now-for-mahmoud-sarsak-on-84th-day-of-hunger-strike-palestinian-soccer-star-at-risk-of-death/>has
now been on hunger strike since May 22, for 55 days, protesting
Israeli violations of the agreement with the prisoners – after his
own administrative detention, rather than expiring as agreed by
the Israelis at the end of the strike, was renewed for an
additional three months. Samer al-Barq is now on hunger strike
until his release is secured.
* Hassan Safadi <http://www.addameer.org/etemplate.php?id=490>, a
long-term hunger striker who had been striking for 71 days at the
time the May 14 agreement was concluded, had his administrative
detention order renewed by the Israelis on June 21, despite the
explicit agreement that the long-term hunger strikers such as
Safadi serving in administrative detention without charge or trial
would not have those orders renewed. Safadi is now on his 25th day
of hunger strike and plans to continue until he is released.
The Israeli Prison Services have continued to violate the May 14
agreement in numerous ways - Dirar Abu Sisi remains in solitary
confinement and another prisoner was recently moved to isolation.
Although family visits to Gaza prisoners have now been announced, they
will be "experimental," *apply only to 25 of the 479 prisoners and will
exclude prisoners' children from visits*
<http://samidoun.ca/2012/07/some-family-visits-to-begin-for-only-25-gaza-prisoners/>.
After his 96-day hunger strike, Palestinian soccer star Mahmoud Sarsak
returned on July 10
<http://samidoun.ca/2012/07/mahmoud-sarsak-released-to-heros-welcome-in-gaza/>
to his home in Gaza to a hero's welcome. It is urgent that we act now
for all Palestinian prisoners to return to their families and homes like
Sarsak. Administrative detention, mass roundups, and military trials are
continuing in Palestine. International solidarity and action is needed
to hold the occupation accountable for its ongoing imprisonment and
abuse of the people of Palestine!
*TAKE ACTION!*
*1. Sign a letter <#letter> demanding the Israeli state transfer Akram
Rikhawi, Samer al-Barq and Hassan Safadi immediately to hospitals and
release them. Tell the Israeli Prison Services that the world is
watching! Click here to sign. <#letter>*
*2. Sign this letter, circulated by UFREE, to members of the European
Parliament and demand action to save the life of Akram Rikhawi.
<http://ufree-p.net/News-221>*
*3. **Join a protest or demonstration outside an Israeli consulate for
Palestinian prisoners. Many groups and organizations are holding events
– join one or announce your own. *Organizing an event, action or forum
on Palestinian prisoners on your city or campus? *Use this form to
contact us
<http://samidoun.ca/2012/04/submit-your-palestinian-prisoner-solidarity-activities-here/>* and
we will post the event widely. /If you need suggestions, materials or
speakers for your event, please contact us
<http://samidoun.ca/contact-us/> at samidoun at samidoun.ca. /(The Ireland
Palestine Solidarity Campaign has great materials, available at
http://www.ipsc.ie/the-issues/factsheets)
*4. Contact your government officials and demand an end to international
silence and complicity with the repression of Palestinian political
prisoners.* In Canada, Call the office of John Baird, Foreign Minister,
and demand an end to Canadian support for Israel and justice for
Palestinian prisoners, at : 613-990-7720; Email: bairdj at parl.gc.ca
<mailto:bairdj at parl.gc.ca>. In the US, call the office of Elizabeth
Jones, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs
(1.202.647.7209). Demand that Elizabeth Jones bring this issue urgently
to his counterparts in Israel.
*samidoun <http://samidoun.ca/?author=1>* | July 15, 2012 at 12:38 pm |
URL: http://wp.me/p2cx3f-lD
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