Sally Rooney Urges UK Government to Act Over Hunger-Striking Palestine Action Detainees
Best-selling author warns of ‘shocking mistreatment’ of six prisoners awaiting trial and calls for basic prison rights to be upheld
Sally Rooney has publicly appealed to the United Kingdom government to intervene amid what she calls the ‘‘shocking mistreatment’’ of six individuals affiliated with the protest group Palestine Action who have launched a hunger strike while awaiting trial.
The Irish author described their treatment—encompassing solitary confinement, letter censorship, protracted detention without conviction—as a grave human-rights concern.
The hunger strike began on 2 November with Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib at Bronzefield prison in Surrey, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
They were joined by Heba Muraisi at HMP New Hall on 5 November, Jon Cink at Bronzefield on 6 November, Teuta Hoxha at Peterborough prison on 9 November and Kamran Ahmed at Pentonville on 10 November.
According to the advocacy group Prisoners for Palestine, Cink fainted during a blood test, Muraisi has experienced severe fatigue and nausea, Hoxha reports feeling ‘‘very faint’’ and Ahmed is suffering from brain fog.
Rooney emphasised that none of the six have been convicted of any offence, yet they have been held in custody since November last year in relation to two separate protests.
Gib and Cink are due to stand trial in January 2027 for damage to two Voyager aircraft during a protest at RAF Brize Norton.
The other four are among 24 individuals accused following a 2024 action at Elbit Systems in Filton, Bristol, both of which were claimed by Palestine Action.
While none have been charged under the Terrorism Act, prosecutors say the offences carry a ‘‘terrorism connection’’.
The protest group itself was proscribed under the Terrorism Act in July, making it illegal to display support for it.
In her statement Rooney wrote: ‘‘The shocking mistreatment of these prisoners – including censorship and withholding of letters, prolonged use of solitary confinement, and years-long imprisonment without trial – constitutes a serious violation of human rights.
I urge the British government to take action to engage with the prisoners and address their demands.’’ She added that ‘‘books, letters and other reading material should not be withheld or censored’’ and warned that a system where individuals can be held for years without trial undermines justice.
The Ministry of Justice responded by rejecting the allegations, stating that ‘‘We strongly reject these allegations – we treat all prisoners fairly and equally, regardless of background circumstances.’’ The case adds to wider debate surrounding the use of pre-trial detention, rights of protest-affiliated detainees and the treatment of hunger-striking prisoners in the UK.
As the hunger strike reaches its third week, the health of the participants remains critical and the spotlight is now on whether government and prison authorities will open meaningful dialogue with the detainees to prevent further deterioration of their condition.
The Irish author described their treatment—encompassing solitary confinement, letter censorship, protracted detention without conviction—as a grave human-rights concern.
The hunger strike began on 2 November with Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib at Bronzefield prison in Surrey, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.
They were joined by Heba Muraisi at HMP New Hall on 5 November, Jon Cink at Bronzefield on 6 November, Teuta Hoxha at Peterborough prison on 9 November and Kamran Ahmed at Pentonville on 10 November.
According to the advocacy group Prisoners for Palestine, Cink fainted during a blood test, Muraisi has experienced severe fatigue and nausea, Hoxha reports feeling ‘‘very faint’’ and Ahmed is suffering from brain fog.
Rooney emphasised that none of the six have been convicted of any offence, yet they have been held in custody since November last year in relation to two separate protests.
Gib and Cink are due to stand trial in January 2027 for damage to two Voyager aircraft during a protest at RAF Brize Norton.
The other four are among 24 individuals accused following a 2024 action at Elbit Systems in Filton, Bristol, both of which were claimed by Palestine Action.
While none have been charged under the Terrorism Act, prosecutors say the offences carry a ‘‘terrorism connection’’.
The protest group itself was proscribed under the Terrorism Act in July, making it illegal to display support for it.
In her statement Rooney wrote: ‘‘The shocking mistreatment of these prisoners – including censorship and withholding of letters, prolonged use of solitary confinement, and years-long imprisonment without trial – constitutes a serious violation of human rights.
I urge the British government to take action to engage with the prisoners and address their demands.’’ She added that ‘‘books, letters and other reading material should not be withheld or censored’’ and warned that a system where individuals can be held for years without trial undermines justice.
The Ministry of Justice responded by rejecting the allegations, stating that ‘‘We strongly reject these allegations – we treat all prisoners fairly and equally, regardless of background circumstances.’’ The case adds to wider debate surrounding the use of pre-trial detention, rights of protest-affiliated detainees and the treatment of hunger-striking prisoners in the UK.
As the hunger strike reaches its third week, the health of the participants remains critical and the spotlight is now on whether government and prison authorities will open meaningful dialogue with the detainees to prevent further deterioration of their condition.