Palestinian Hunger Striker's Condition Worsens After 25 Days

[Danielle Ni Dhighe <danielle@xxxxxxxx>]

Palestine Monitor
23 June 2003

Palestinian Prisoner's Condition Worsens After 25 Days of Hunger
Strike

A Palestinian prisoner entering his 26th day of a hunger strike in
Ramle prison has been transferred to the prison hospital due to his
deteriorating condition. Twenty seven year old Ahmad Talab Barghouthi
began his hunger strike on May 31, in protest at the conditions of
his incarceration.

According to Talab, his father, Ahmad took the decision to refuse
food because the prison administration continued to ignore his
protests of the conditions in which he is kept; isolated in solitary
confinement for the past five months in a prison cell full of
cockroaches and mice. "When he first complained about the conditions
the administration didn't care" his father said, "and then gradually
his situation has been worsening. He told the guards that he was
refusing food and they came into his cell and removed everything that
was his, as a punishment for speaking out. I have not seen him since
he was arrested, and he has not been permitted to see his lawyer
since he began this hunger strike."

"All he wants is to be treated in a humane way. He is kept in
conditions unfit for animals. I want the international committees for
detainees and prisoners and human rights organisations to see what is
happening here to him and all the other Palestinian prisoners ­
and make Israel to at least treat them humanely."

Despite the fact that Ahmad was arrested in April 2002, he has yet to
be charged with any crime. Moussa Douwdin who was arrested more than
11 years ago is also on a hunger strike and has been hospitalised
with Ahmad.