A desperate scene is unfolding outside HMP Bronzefield, where MP Zarah Sultana has spent the night demanding urgent medical care for Qesser Zuhrah, a prisoner on hunger strike for over a month. Zuhrah, arrested in connection with protests targeting arms manufacturers, is now critically ill and unable to stand, yet authorities are reportedly delaying an ambulance transfer.
The situation escalated rapidly, with Sultana publicly appealing to David Lammy and Wes Streeting for immediate intervention. Her pleas, however, have gone unanswered, fueling fears that Zuhrah’s life is at risk. “If she dies, it will be on their hands,” Sultana stated, her voice echoing the growing desperation of supporters gathered at the prison gates.
Zuhrah is one of six activists currently engaged in a hunger strike, the largest of its kind in a UK prison since 1981. All were arrested following demonstrations against Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, and RAF Brize Norton. The strikers are protesting their continued detention while awaiting trial, a detention they see as a suppression of legitimate activism.
Supporters report Zuhrah has already lost a significant amount of weight and is showing alarming signs of deterioration. Despite repeated calls to emergency services, access for an ambulance has been repeatedly denied. Two doctors present at the scene confirm Zuhrah requires immediate hospital assessment and tests that cannot be performed within the prison walls.
A statement released through the Prisoners for Palestine campaign reveals Zuhrah’s unwavering resolve. Even in her weakened state, she urges mass action: “They won’t imprison us all… flood the damn streets in your millions. Shut down these factories in your thousands!” Her words are a defiant call to continue the fight for Palestinian rights.
Prison authorities maintain that all inmates have access to healthcare and are regularly assessed. They claim Zuhrah is receiving medical attention within the prison and can raise any concerns through established channels. However, this assurance rings hollow as hours tick by with no ambulance arriving and Zuhrah’s condition worsening.
The situation remains critical. As dawn breaks, Zarah Sultana and a growing number of supporters, including representatives from Unison, remain steadfast outside HMP Bronzefield, waiting for a simple act of compassion: allowing an ambulance to enter and save a life. The world watches, holding its breath, as a battle for justice and basic human rights plays out in real-time.
A family member shared a heartbreaking detail: “She still wants you to hug her but she can’t hug you back.” This poignant statement underscores the devastating toll the hunger strike is taking, not only on Zuhrah’s body but on the hearts of those who love her. She has now been on hunger strike for 41 days, losing approximately 13% of her body weight.
