Monday, 29 December 2025, 1:35 pm
Press Release: UN Special Procedures – Human Rights
GENEVA (26 December 2025) – UN experts* today expressed
grave concern for the lives and fundamental rights of eight
pro-Palestinian activists imprisoned in the United Kingdom,
who have been on indefinite hunger strike since 2
November.
“Hunger strike is often a measure of last
resort by people who believe that their rights to protest
and effective remedy have been exhausted,” the experts
said.
As they enter the second month of their strike,
the health of the pro-Palestinian detainees has reportedly
deteriorated significantly, placing them at critical risk of
serious complications, including organ failure, irreversible
neurological damage, cardiac arrhythmias and
death.
“The State’s duty of care toward hunger
strikers is heightened, not diminished,” the experts said.
“Authorities must ensure timely access to emergency and
hospital care when clinically indicated, refrain from
actions that may amount to pressure or retaliation, and
respect medical ethics.”
The expert recalled that
respect for the right to health is applicable to everyone,
including persons deprived of their liberty. They stressed
that States must respect individual autonomy, ensure
continuous, independent medical monitoring, provide accurate
information about health risks, and take all necessary steps
to protect life and prevent irreversible harm, without
resorting to coercive or punitive measures.
They also
expressed concerns regarding the treatment of the hunger
strikers, including reported delays in accessing medical
care, use of excessive restraint during hospital treatment,
denial of contact with family members and legal counsel, and
lack of consistent independent medical oversight,
particularly for detainees with serious pre-existing health
conditions.
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“These reports raise serious questions
about compliance with international human rights law and
standards, including obligations to protect life and prevent
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” the experts
said.
They have previously raised concerns
with the UK Government regarding the application of
counter-terrorism and security frameworks to acts of
political protest that are not genuinely terrorist according
to international standards, and warned
against the criminalisation of conduct that falls within the
protected exercise of the rights to freedom of assembly,
association, and expression, and the suppression of
legitimate political dissent, including advocacy related to
Palestine.
The experts have also expressed serious
concern as to the overbreadth
of the definition of terrorism under UK law, the proscription
of Palestine Action under
the Terrorism Act 2000, and the subsequent mass
arrests and criminal charges, including
terrorism-related offenses, brought against individuals for
alleged support for Palestine Action.
“These hunger
strikes must be understood within the broader context of
restrictions on pro-Palestinian activism in the UK,” the
experts said, noting that the detainees are held in
connection with protest-related activity.
They urged
the United Kingdom to immediately guarantee appropriate
healthcare for all hunger strikers, and engage in meaningful
dialogue and action to address not only the claims of the
protestors, but also underlying rights violations, and an
end to the repression of Palestine
activism.
“Preventable deaths in custody are never
acceptable. The State bears full responsibility for the
lives and wellbeing of those it detains,” the experts
said. “Urgent action is required now.”
The experts
stand ready to engage constructively with the UK Government
and will continue to monitor the situation
closely.
Notes:
*The
experts:
Gina
Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of
peaceful assembly and of associationTlaleng
Mofokeng, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical
and mental healthCecilia
M. Bailliet, the Independent Expert on human rights and
international solidarityGeorge
Katrougalos, the Independent expert on the promotion of a
democratic and equitable international
orderBen
Saul, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection
of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering
terrorismIrene
Khan, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection
of the right to freedom of opinion and
expressionFrancesca
Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967
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