Emergency vigil planned in Mayo for hunger strikers in UK prison

Local activist groups Mayo Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and United Against Racism have announced an emergency vigil to highlight the plight of two hunger strikers currently imprisoned in Britain, whom organisers say are in imminent danger of death.

The vigil is scheduled to take place this evening, Wednesday, January 14, at 5.30pm in Market Square, Castlebar.

According to organisers, the protest is being held in solidarity with Heba Muraisi, aged 31, who is on the 72nd day of a hunger strike, and Kamran Ahmed, aged 28, who has been hunger striking for 65 days. Both are reportedly refusing food in protest at what supporters describe as unjust detention and delays in legal proceedings.

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Campaigners state that the hunger strikers are calling for a fair and speedy trial, release on bail, the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action in the UK, and the closure of Elbit Systems, an Israeli-owned arms manufacturer with operations in Britain. The groups argue that Elbit Systems supplies weapons to Israel and link their protest to opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

In a statement, the organisers said the vigil aims to defend the right to lawful political protest and they have also issued an open call to local and national political representatives to attend the event and show support.

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Members of the public are being encouraged by the organisers to attend the peaceful gathering and show solidarity with the hunger strikers and their demands.