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Zarah Sultana Leads Urgent Vigil at HMP Bronzefield as Hunger-Striking Activists Reach Critical Condition-The gates of HMP Bronzefield have become the focal point of a desperate humanitarian plea as Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana maintains a defiant vigil for Qesser Zuhrah, a 20-year-old activist who has now reached her 46th day without food. Sultana, widely recognized for her strategic political timing and unwavering commitment to civil liberties, arrived at the Surrey facility in the early hours of December 17. Her presence marks a significant escalation in the campaign to secure emergency medical treatment for Zuhrah and several other activists currently being held in the British prison system, Daily Dazzling Dawn realized.
The hunger strike, which has spread across eight activists associated with the now-proscribed group Palestine Action, represents a profound and peaceful exercise of democratic protest. Eschewing violence or property damage, these individuals have placed their own lives on the line to draw international attention to the ethics of arms manufacturing and the recent proscription of their advocacy group. Supporters argue that this form of self-sacrifice is the ultimate non-violent tool of the disenfranchised, designed to prick the conscience of a state that has, until now, remained largely indifferent to their medical plight.
Zarah Sultana’s decision to stand outside the prison at 3 am was not a mere symbolic gesture but a calculated move to break the wall of silence surrounding the activists' deteriorating health. By leveraging her platform at the exact moment the health of the strikers reached a "high risk of death" threshold, Sultana has forced the Ministry of Justice to confront the reality of the situation. Her involvement follows reports that prison authorities had repeatedly denied requests to call for emergency services, despite the strikers' organs reportedly beginning to fail.
The situation remains fluid and increasingly dire. While a video circulated on social media appearing to show an ambulance arriving at the prison late on Wednesday, official confirmation of Zuhrah’s hospitalization has been slow to emerge. The South East Coast Ambulance Service previously stated they do not respond to third-party calls from prisons, relying instead on internal health teams. However, the sheer duration of the strike—46 days for both Zuhrah and Amy Gardiner-Gibson, and 45 days for Heba Muraisi—suggests that internal protocols may no longer be sufficient to prevent a tragedy.
The political pressure on the government is mounting. More than 50 MPs and peers, led by Jeremy Corbyn, have petitioned Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy to meet with the legal team from Imran Khan & Partners. Despite this, the Ministry of Justice has maintained a rigid stance. Justice Minister Jake Richards recently asserted in the Commons that the prison service has "robust and proper guidance" for such scenarios, a statement that critics argue ignores the unique ethical and medical challenges posed by long-term hunger strikes in a democratic society.
As the vigil continues, the focus remains on the bravery of the young women inside HMP Bronzefield and the strategic leadership of Sultana outside its walls. The activists are currently being held awaiting trial for actions involving Elbit Systems, an arms manufacturer. Their supporters maintain that the right to protest against the machinery of war is a cornerstone of British democracy, and that allowing young citizens to die in state custody for their beliefs would be an indelible stain on the nation's human rights record. Sultana has vowed to remain at the site until medical safety is guaranteed, signaling that the time for quiet diplomacy has passed and the time for direct, peaceful witness has arrived.
