They're indifferent to human suffering. They're complicit in torture and other abuses.They're not doctors. They're charlatans.
Israel won't let Akram or other prisoners get proper care. He faces imminent death. Fasting, severe weight loss, and chronic illnesses threaten him.
He suffers from diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. He's been held unjustly at Ramle since 2004. He demands release on medical grounds.
On June 14, an Israeli District Court rejected PHR-I's request to transfer him to civilian care. It also denied his release petition and won't intervene to permit family visits.
Even Israel's draconian gulag rules provide parole eligibility after two-thirds of sentences are served. Akram qualifies. It didn't help.
He's held in the same room as Samer Barq. He's also hunger striking. On June 22, he reached day 33. He's administratively detained uncharged.
Akram said he and Samer retain hope. Their morale is high. Their cause is just. They deserve freedom, not prison. They committed no crimes. They're both pressured to resume eating.
Like thousands of others in Israel's gulag, they're political prisoners. They resist courageously. Struggling for justice with empty stomachs is their only option. They hope they won't be forgotten.
Addameer and PHR-I urge continued pressure to get Israel to observe its international law obligations.
It spurns them with impunity. Racism is official state policy. So is state terror. Israel is a global menace. It policies threaten humanity.
After two and a half months without food, Akram may have little time left. Israel doesn't care if he lives or dies.
A Final Comment
On June 8, UN Special (Palestinian human rights) Rapporteur Richard Falk expressed deep concern for Mahmoud Sarsak and Akram Rikhawi, saying:
"These individuals are protesting against their detention without charges and are suffering immensely for it."There is no acceptable basis for continuing to hold these persons, and Israel will be responsible if any permanent harm results."
Sarsak was granted released. Akram's ordeal continues.
