Image credit: Days of Palestine
On day 46 of his strike, Mohmed al-Qeeq partially lost speaking and completely lost sight and hearing. On day 47, he started to fell intermittently into coma. On day 71, he had a mild-stroke.
Days of Palestine, Gaza Strip –International activists carried out on Wednesday social media campaign for Palestinian hunger-striking journalist Mohmed al-Qeeq.
The Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Qeeq’s house on November 21, 2015. They searched the house, damaged much of the furniture and arrested Al-Qeeq, who is a journalist used to work for the Saudi Al-Majd TV.
Al-Qeeq was put in administrative detention for six months. Administrative detention means staying in prison for endlessly renewable terms and without charges or trials. A prisoner under administrative detention does not know why he is in prison.
Protesting against his administrative detention, Al-Qeeq started a hunger strike and he has been without food for 71 days.
Reporters Without Borders: “RSF is concerned about the conditions of Al-Qeeq’s detention.”#FreeAlQeeq pic.twitter.com/9Wwz1n1fcK
— Motasem A Dalloul (@AbujomaaGaza) February 3, 2016
He is being hospitalised in an Israeli hospital, where he is handcuffed and leg-chained. Doctors force illegally take blood samples from him and try to give him nutritious solutions, pushing him to break his strike. However, he refuses everything, insisting on his freedom or death. According to his lawyer and doctor, he has lost 35kgs (66pounds) of weight, and there is evidence of damage to internal organs of his body. On day 46 of his strike, he partially lost speaking and completely lost sight and hearing. On day 47, he started to fell intermittently into coma. On day 71, he had a mild-stroke. Amnesty International, Reporters without Borders, and the European Union have all expressed serious concern for his case.
Can you imagine yourself on #HungerStrike for more than 70 days .. ??!!#FreeAlQeeq pic.twitter.com/v5zKobgfVL
— Said Shoaib (@saidshouib) February 3, 2016
On 2 February, Robert Piper, United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance and Development Aid, said in a statement: “I am deeply concerned about the continued practice of administrative detention in Israeli jails and detention centers.”
“In particular, I am alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating health of Palestinian administrative detainee, Mohammed Al-Qiq, who is on hunger strike in protest against the arbitrary nature of his detention and ill-treatment,” Piper said.
SOURCE Days of Palestine