Palestinian prisoner Bilal Kayed is continuing his open hunger strike on the 22nd day as of July 7. Addameer lawyer, Mona Nadaf, visited him in isolation in Ashkelon prison, where he remains in a very small cell without ventilation.
Nadaf reported that Kayed refuses any kind of vitamin or salt supplements and medical examinations, and only consumes water. Kayed has been denied clothing except underwear, and any other books or written materials, except the Qur’an.
Twenty-three days after he began his hunger strike, administrative detainee, Bilal Kayed’s health steadily deteriorates.
Prisoners start 3-day hunger strike in solidarity with Bilal Kayed https://t.co/fUNUIzmGYr pic.twitter.com/r9xfmg5ovl
— Joe Catron (@jncatron) July 3, 2016
Addameer’s attorney visited Kayed, stating he still refuses to undergo any medical examinations or to take any vitamins and salt supplements. He is currently only consuming water and has lost approximately 25 kilograms. He feels tiredness, weakness and sleeps for only one hour per day.
Bilal Kayed, a 35-year-old Palestinian from Nablus was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison. He was scheduled to be released on June 13, 2016 after completing his sentence. However, a 6-month administrative detention order was issued against him on the same day, immediately after which he was placed back in isolation.
Kayed has been on hunger strike since 15 June in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial.
VIDEO on the struggle for Bilal Kayed's freedom. He is on his 16th day of hunger strike https://t.co/Ax1GimXBcu #FreeBilalKayed #Palestine
— AIC (@aicnews) June 30, 2016
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have engaged in solidarity hunger strikes and protests in support of his demand for freedom. His case represents a threat of indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial for all Palestinian prisoners completing lengthy sentences.
Over 150 international and Palestinian organizations have signed on to the call for action to free Kayed, and further mobilizations are planned for the Week of Action to Free Bilal Kayed between July 8-15. Protests and events will take place in New York; Tampa; Arklow, Ireland; Manchester; London; Beirut; and Milan, with more cities to be announced shortly.
(PC, Samidoun, Addameer)
