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          size="-2"><font color="#ff0000"><b><i>2 articles follow</i></b></font><br>
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          <a class="domain reader-domain"
href="http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/09/19/news/prisoners-embark-on-hunger-strike-in-solidarity-with-palestinian-doctor-2071534/">http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/09/19/news/prisoners-embark-on-hunger-strike-in-solidarity-with-palestinian-doctor-2071534/</a></font>
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            <h1 class="reader-title">Prisoners embark on hunger strike
              in solidarity with Palestinian doctor</h1>
            <div class="credits reader-credits">Allison Morris - 19
              September 2020<br>
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                  <p>ABOUT 20 dissident republican prisoners being held
                    in top security Maghaberry Prison are refusing
                    meals.</p>
                  <p>The prisoners say they will fast for two weeks in
                    solidarity with Palestinian doctor Issam Bassalat,
                    who is being held in a Covid-19 isolation area in
                    the Co Antrim prison.</p>
                  <p>He was placed there on Tuesday after returning from
                    a medical appointment at Craigavon Area Hospital.</p>
                  <p>Due to Covid restrictions it has been prison policy
                    since March that anyone entering the jail is
                    isolated for 14 days as a precaution.</p>
                  <p>Dr Bassalat had already carried out the 14 day
                    isolation period when remanded into custody last
                    month.</p>
                  <p>However, has been told he must now do a second
                    period of isolation after leaving prison for an MRI
                    scan.</p>
                  <p>The Edinburgh based GP was refused bail earlier
                    this week.</p>
                  <p>He faces a single count of preparatory acts of
                    terrorism in connection with an alleged New IRA
                    meeting held in Co Tyrone in July that was bugged by
                    MI5.</p>
                  <p>He claims he was entrapped by Dennis McFadden,
                    named in court as an MI5 agent.</p>
                  <p>Solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law has expressed
                    concerns about the Covid arrangements in the prison,
                    saying his clients were denied a change of clothing
                    during isolation and spent 14 days in the same dirty
                    clothes.</p>
                  <p>The Irish Republican Prisoners’ Welfare Association
                    (IRPWA said that Dr Bassalat, was being "forced into
                    isolation in terrible conditions in Foyle House”
                    adding that all prisoners under the organisations
                    care would be embarking "on a two week hunger
                    strike" over the treatment of the Palestinian doctor
                    who they say should be returned to the republican
                    separated wing at Roe House.</p>
                  <p>The Prison Service said it does not comment on
                    individual prisoners.</p>
                  <p>A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said:
                    “Since the beginning of Covid-19 over 1,000 men have
                    come through the isolation areas and into the main
                    prison.</p>
                  <p>“During the 14 days, a person in the isolated area
                    will have access to legal representation, showers,
                    telephones and exercise. Prisoners in separation
                    have previously accepted the need for a 14-day
                    isolation period when they have left the prison for
                    approved purposes.”</p>
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                    <p><span> <time datetime="19-09-2020 01:00"> 19
                          September, 2020 01:00</time> </span> <span>
                        <span>Northern Ireland news</span> </span> </p>
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        <font size="-2">_____________________________________________________________________________________________<br>
          <a class="domain reader-domain"
href="https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/09/20/irish-republican-prisoners-in-belfast-go-on-hunger-strike-in-solidarity-with-palestinian-activist/amp/">https://www.thecanary.co/uk/news/2020/09/20/irish-republican-prisoners-in-belfast-go-on-hunger-strike-in-solidarity-with-palestinian-activist/amp/</a></font>
        <h1 class="reader-title">Irish republican prisoners in Belfast
          go on hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian activist</h1>
        <div class="credits reader-credits">Peadar O'Cearnaigh
          ‌
          ‌
          20th September 2020</div>
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                            <p>
                              ‌As <a
href="https://www.thecanary.co/global/world-analysis/2020/09/07/theres-been-peace-in-ireland-for-over-20-years-but-some-irish-republicans-claim-they-have-unfinished-business/"
                                target="_blank">reported</a> by <em>The
                                Canary</em>, in August police arrested
                              alleged members of the New IRA in the
                              north of Ireland as part of ‘Operation
                              Arbacia’. Police also <a
href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/palestinian-doctor-charged-over-alleged-new-ira-links-1.1068789"
                                target="_blank">arrested</a> GP and
                              Palestinian activist Dr Issam
                              Hijjawi-Bassalat as part of that
                              operation. Hijjawi-Bassalat is currently
                              on remand in Maghaberry Prison near
                              Belfast.</p>
                            <section aria-label="Main post copy text"
                              data-role="region" id="main-post-content">
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                                <p>Prison authorities <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dissident-prisoners-in-hunger-strike-over-treatment-of-new-ira-accused-gp-39540955.html?fbclid=IwAR1xUsUBvDE_xS9ljDVonShM8Jk3Yg2ZcbYOzczcwevoMMVsYslubL-Ru5g"
                                    target="_blank">placed</a> the GP in
                                  isolation in Foyle House following his
                                  return from <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/palestinian-doctor-refused-bail-after-claim-he-was-caught-in-dirty-squabble-between-mi5-and-republicans-39537229.html?fbclid=IwAR06kkQS1uiRj4FBM3l8cChJEskUM1rgnJD4Tizq4JPXv3nMZUi8Chyg9nI"
                                    target="_blank">hospital</a>.
                                  Meanwhile, the prison service <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dissident-prisoners-in-hunger-strike-over-treatment-of-new-ira-accused-gp-39540955.html?fbclid=IwAR1xUsUBvDE_xS9ljDVonShM8Jk3Yg2ZcbYOzczcwevoMMVsYslubL-Ru5g"
                                    target="_blank">detains</a> Irish
                                  republican prisoners in Roe House.
                                  Republican prisoners told <em>The
                                    Canary</em> they’ve been on hunger
                                  strike since 8pm on 16 September. They
                                  demand prison authorities move Dr
                                  Hijjawi-Bassalat to Roe House.</p>
                                <h5><strong>“In solidarity”</strong></h5>
                                <p>The Irish Republican Prisoners
                                  Welfare Association (<a
                                    href="https://www.facebook.com/irpwa/"
                                    target="_blank">IRPWA</a>) told <em>The
                                    Canary</em>:</p>
                                <section aria-label="Subscribe to the
                                  Canary email" data-role="region">
                                </section>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>The current hunger strike
                                    undertaken by current republican
                                    prisoners is in solidarity with our
                                    Palestinian comrade Dr Issam Hijjawi
                                    who is also on hunger strike… in
                                    isolation in Foyle House.</p>
                                  <p>The conditions in Foyle House are
                                    not fit for human purpose. As we
                                    have stated in previous statements,
                                    an ODC [<a
                                      href="https://www.encyclo.co.uk/meaning-of-Ordinary_Decent_Criminal"
                                      target="_blank">ordinary decent
                                      criminal</a>] has recently
                                    contracted Covid-19 and is situated
                                    in Foyle House. Conditions are
                                    disgusting and unhygienic.</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <p>On its social media page, the IRPWA <a
href="https://www.facebook.com/irpwa/posts/2712601322355211"
                                    target="_blank">stated</a> Dr
                                  Hijjawi-Bassalat:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p><em>has multiple health conditions,
                                      has insisted that if this </em>[being
                                    placed in isolation in Foyle House]<em>
                                      happened he will embark on a
                                      hungerstrike. We feel that to put
                                      Issam in isolation is being
                                      vindictive and a continuation of
                                      the concerted, petty targeting
                                      that he has endured since entering
                                      Maghaberry.</em></p>
                                  <p><em>The Republican Prisoners in
                                      Maghaberry Roe House and
                                      Portlaoise E3/E4 will support
                                      Issam in this stance by engaging
                                      in a solidarity hungerstrike
                                      alongside him.</em></p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <p>The prisoner welfare group claims
                                  there’s no need for Dr
                                  Hijjawi-Bassalat’s coronavirus <a
href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54202281?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers&link_location=live-reporting-story"
                                    target="_blank">isolation</a> in
                                  Foyle House. Because it <a
href="https://samidoun.net/2020/09/dr-issam-hijjawi-bassalat-and-irish-republicans-on-hunger-strike-in-prison-organize-solidarity-and-demand-freedom/"
                                    target="_blank">claims</a> prison
                                  authorities could accommodate him in
                                  isolation in the republican wing.
                                  However, a spokesperson for the
                                  Department of Justice <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dissident-prisoners-in-hunger-strike-over-treatment-of-new-ira-accused-gp-39540955.html?fbclid=IwAR1xUsUBvDE_xS9ljDVonShM8Jk3Yg2ZcbYOzczcwevoMMVsYslubL-Ru5g"
                                    target="_blank">said</a>:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>Since the beginning of Covid-19
                                    over 1,000 men have come through the
                                    isolation areas [<a
                                      href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54202281"
                                      target="_blank">Foyle House</a>]
                                    and into the main prison.</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <h5><strong>Dr Issam Hijjawi-Bassalat</strong></h5>
                                <p>During Dr Hijjawi-Bassalat’s
                                  unsuccessful bail hearing, his defence
                                  <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/palestinian-doctor-refused-bail-after-claim-he-was-caught-in-dirty-squabble-between-mi5-and-republicans-39537229.html?fbclid=IwAR06kkQS1uiRj4FBM3l8cChJEskUM1rgnJD4Tizq4JPXv3nMZUi8Chyg9nI"
                                    target="_blank">claimed</a> he is “a
                                  man of good character” who has “never
                                  [been] in trouble before”. It also <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/palestinian-doctor-refused-bail-after-claim-he-was-caught-in-dirty-squabble-between-mi5-and-republicans-39537229.html?fbclid=IwAR06kkQS1uiRj4FBM3l8cChJEskUM1rgnJD4Tizq4JPXv3nMZUi8Chyg9nI"
                                    target="_blank">presented</a> over
                                  30 character references describing the
                                  doctor as being an advocate of
                                  non-violence and Palestinian human
                                  rights.</p>
                                <p>His solicitor <a
href="http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/08/26/news/palestinian-doctor-claims-he-was-entrapped-by-mi5-agent-2047441/"
                                    target="_blank">said</a> his client
                                  once chaired the Palestinian Society
                                  in Scotland which is a:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>peaceful and democratic
                                    organisation which raises awareness
                                    of the Palestinian cause</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <p>His defence team went on to <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/palestinian-doctor-refused-bail-after-claim-he-was-caught-in-dirty-squabble-between-mi5-and-republicans-39537229.html?fbclid=IwAR06kkQS1uiRj4FBM3l8cChJEskUM1rgnJD4Tizq4JPXv3nMZUi8Chyg9nI"
                                    target="_blank">say</a>:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>He was caught up in the dirty
                                    squabble of war between MI5 and
                                    Irish republicans. These charges are
                                    an affront to freedom of speech.</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <p>They added:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>My client speaks to numerous groups
                                    on Palestine. He went to the <a
                                      href="https://saoradh.irish/"
                                      target="_blank">Saoradh</a> Ard
                                    Fheis [AGM of this left wing Irish
                                    republican party], he was certainly
                                    misled. Refusing bail drives a coach
                                    and horses through the presumption
                                    of innocence. There are issues of
                                    entrapment. Hopefully the
                                    prosecution sees sense and drops
                                    these charges.</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <p>Dr Hijjawi-Bassalat <a
href="http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/08/26/news/palestinian-doctor-claims-he-was-entrapped-by-mi5-agent-2047441/"
                                    target="_blank">claims</a> an MI5
                                  agent (Dennis McFadden) “pestered” and
                                  lured him to a meeting with alleged
                                  members of the New IRA.</p>
                                <p>The Palestinian prisoner solidarity
                                  network Samidoun <a
href="https://samidoun.net/2020/09/dr-issam-hijjawi-bassalat-and-irish-republicans-on-hunger-strike-in-prison-organize-solidarity-and-demand-freedom/"
                                    target="_blank">expressed</a>:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>full solidarity with Dr. Issam
                                    Hijjawi Bassalat and the Irish
                                    Republican prisoners</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <h5><strong>Conditions in Maghaberry</strong></h5>
                                <p>In November 2015, the HM Inspectorate
                                  of Prisons and Criminal Justice
                                  Inspection Northern Ireland (CJINI) <a
href="https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/maghaberry-prison-most-dangerous-in-the-uk-34172935.html#:~:text=%3A%3A%20prisoners%20and%20staff%20felt,and%20some%20aspects%20were%20unsafe."
                                    target="_blank">described</a>
                                  Maghaberry as “a prison in crisis”,
                                  with “unsafe and unstable” conditions.
                                  Nick Hardwick of Her Majesty’s Chief
                                  Inspector of Prisons in England and
                                  Wales said:</p>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <p>This is one of the worst prisons
                                    I’ve ever seen and the most
                                    dangerous prison I’ve been to</p>
                                </blockquote>
                                <p>Hardwick also said the prison might
                                  not meet minimum UN standards.</p>
                                <h5><strong>Hunger strikes by Irish
                                    republican prisoners</strong></h5>
                                <p>Irish republican prisoners have <a
                                    href="https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/27784"
                                    target="_blank">used</a> <a
href="https://www.thecanary.co/opinion/2020/05/05/we-should-never-forget-bobby-sands-nor-the-brutality-of-the-thatcher-government-in-ireland/"
                                    target="_blank">hunger</a> strikes
                                  as a form of political protest in the
                                  past. A number of those who protested
                                  during those years did so to the
                                  death. However, this protest will <a
href="https://www.facebook.com/irpwa/photos/a.1609418146006873/2714553468826663/"
                                    target="_blank">continue</a> for 14
                                  days.</p>
                                <p><em>The Canary</em> contacted the
                                  Northern Ireland Prison Service (<a
href="https://www.justice-ni.gov.uk/articles/about-northern-ireland-prison-service"
                                    target="_blank">NIPS</a>) for
                                  comment but it did not respond by the
                                  time of publication.</p>
                                <p><em>Featured image via </em><a
                                    href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6evGXM0V948"
                                    target="_blank"><em>YouTube – SPSC
                                      TV Channel</em></a></p>
                              </div>
                            </section>
                            <section aria-label="Support the Canary"
                              data-role="region">
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