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Amnesty: Israel must release hunger striking Al-Qeeq immediately

February 23, 2017 at 10:29 am

Amnesty International yesterday expressed alarm over the health condition of Muhammad Al-Qeeq, a Palestinian prisoner who is on hunger strike in protest against being held under administrative detention.

Amnesty said that it had been informed that Al-Qeeq had been transferred to the medical centre of Ramleh prison yesterday after going 17 days without food.

“[Al-Qeeq’s] lawyer believes this is an indication that Muhammad’s health condition has deteriorated,” Amnesty stated. “Muhammad must be immediately transferred to a civilian hospital and receive the specialised medical treatment he requires.”

Read: Hunger striker Al-Qeq hospitalised, wife says

Speaking to Quds Press yesterday, Al-Qeeq’s wife, Fayhaa Shalash, said he “still persists [to continue the hunger strike] despite the difficulties facing his life.”

Amnesty said that the Israel Prison Service (IPS) had rejected Al-Qeeq’s lawyer, Khalid Zabarqa’s previous request to transfer Al-Qeeq to a hospital.

The organisation called on Israeli authorities “to release Muhammad Al-Qeeq and all others who have been placed under administrative detention, unless they are promptly charged with an internationally recognisable crime, in proceedings that adhere to international fair trial standards.”

The Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expressed on Tuesday its “high concern” for Al-Qeeq.

Read: Journalists in Gaza come out in support of Al-Qeq

“MADA calls all human rights organisations and all bodies concerned with freedom of expression and media freedoms to put pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to immediately release Al-Qeeq, and to stop arresting Palestinian journalists over the course of their work, and to stop the Israeli policy of arbitrary administrative detention without charges,” the organiszation said in a statement.