Mother of hunger striker feels ‘helpless’ after doctors warn he could die within days
A pro-Palestinian striker is ’round the corner from death’ after days without water, his family and supporters have told Metro.
Umer Khalid, 22, has been on hunger strike for 17 days over his treatment in jail since facing charges for alleged involvement in the break-in at RAF Brize Norton.
The activist, who has an underlying genetic disorder, stopped drinking water on Friday, putting his life ‘at risk’.
Khalid was subsequently taken to hospital from HMP Wormwood Scrubs yesterday before being returned later that day, his mum Shabana Khalid told Metro.
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Shabana, 43, said she understands her son was taken to hospital at around 11am on Sunday but has not heard from him directly since Saturday.
The mum, who lives in Manchester, told Metro: ‘I am very worried, this is an absolute nightmare.
‘I cannot sleep. I feel helpless. Not being able to speak to him and have that reassurance that he is ok is the worst.’
Shabana said she spoke with Ulmer on Saturday, who was then two days into his thirst strike and told her he had a ‘very dry mouth’.
Despite warnings from doctors that people can die within three or four days when on thirst strike, she says he is resolute.
Shabana said: ‘He is not going to back down. He fulfills whatever he says the best he can. He will do the best for everybody around him.’
Dr Qureshi, research director at CAGE International, told Metro: ‘On thirst strike, your body can only take three or four days max. And he’s already been on hunger strike for two weeks.
‘We’re just extremely worried that death is around the corner. I’m genuinely worried he’ll get to a state where he might not survive.’
He said Khalid was due to start his thirst strike on Saturday, but told Dr Qureshi he was beginning it on Friday after staff moved him to a segregated part of the prison.
Dr Qureshi said Khalid told him ‘things were a struggle’ due to tiredness when they last spoke on Friday.
CAGE International supports people who have been affected by counter-terrorism legislation and policy.
Khalid began a hunger strike in November alongside seven other prisoners in custody over their alleged roles in Palestine Action break-ins.
The others have now all ended their action, whereas Khalid continued his hunger strike after a brief pause at Christmas when he became unwell.
Protestors supporting the activist clashed with police at HMP Wormwood Scrubs on Saturday night.
Eighty-six members of the group were detained on suspicion of aggravated trespass after they ‘breached prison grounds’, the Met Police said.
Shabana claimed Khalid’s phone was taken away from him during the protest on Saturday, as often happens, but said it was unusual that she had still not heard from him by now.
What can happen during a hunger strike?
Ian Miller, a historian of hunger strikes in British prisons, told Metro that a hunger strike can typically play out physiologically as follows:
Days One to Seven: decreasing heart rate, physical wasting, weight loss (as bodies eat up their fat reserves in the adipose tissue.
Days Eight to Fourteen: Bodies begin using glycogen stores (energy located in the liver and muscles). Ammonia produced giving a distinctive smell. Weight loss slows down. Loss of heart mass causing a slow heart beat.
Days Fifteen Onwards: Tendencies to collapse and become bedbound. Nightmares very common early on. Physical and psychological health worsens significantly. Very disturbed sleep. ‘Raving all night’, as one hunger strike termed it in the 1920s.
Around twenty to sixty/seventy days: Patients essentially in a state of complete exhaustion, but often still conscious until around 50 days.
Over 70 days: With zero medical intervention or food, this seems to be roughly the limit of survival. In 1920, hunger striker Terence MacSwiney lasted 74 days before he died.
Khalid has a genetic disorder, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which makes him more vulnerable.
This disorder means he needs a healthy diet and plenty of protein, Shabana said.
He has been warned by doctors that his thirst strike could lead to death within days.
In comments provided by Prisoners for Palestine, Dr Rupa Marya said: ‘With no fluid intake, typically people die of acute kidney failure and other derangements within three to four days.
‘With Khalid’s underlying health condition, he is at increased risk of death even sooner.
‘While the UK government is making plans to build skyscrapers over the remains of Gaza’s buried children, Khalid’s actions expose the absolute barbarity and racist hypocrisy of the UK legal system.
‘By Monday, if the UK government continues to stall, we can expect this young man to be well in the process of dying if not dead.’
Amnesty International raised concerns about Khalid’s condition after he escalated his hunger strike to a thirst strike.
Kerry Moscogiuri, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, said on Friday: ‘Umer Khalid is in a desperate situation and we urge representatives of the Government to meet with his lawyers this weekend before it is too late.
‘Amnesty International has long opposed the misuse of terrorism powers that has led to lengthy, oppressive, and disproportionate detention conditions, contributing directly to this crisis.
‘None of the people who have been involved in the hunger strikes have been found guilty of a crime, yet some have been held in prison for up to 18 months and counting in restrictive conditions after anti-terrorism powers have been used against them.
‘Action is urgently needed now to guarantee communication with legal representatives, ensure proper family contact and provide all urgent and appropriate medical care.’
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: ‘Reports of fluid refusal are extremely concerning and the dangers of this are explained to prisoners by healthcare experts.
‘Prisoners are being managed in line with longstanding policy. This includes regular checks by medical professionals, heart monitoring and blood tests, and support to help them eat and drink again.
‘If deemed appropriate by healthcare teams, prisoners will be taken to hospital.’
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