Akram Rikhawi at risk!… Akram Rikhawi 85 días de huelga de hambre

Akram Rikhawi at risk!

English

Diabetic Palestinian political prisoner Akram Rikhawi has been on a hunger strike for 85 days and is at imminent risk of dying.

According to the World Medical Association, in most cases death occurs between 42nd and 72nd days of hunger strike. Rikhawi suffers from various chronic conditions: diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, kidney problems, and deterioration of his eye lenses, high cholesterol, and immune deficiency. Due to these pre-existing conditions Rikhawi's hunger strike has weakened his body, and already a month ago he was in very fragile condition. Now he is in a coma and his condition is deteriorating fast.

Akram Rikhawi went on hunger strike on 12 April as a protest when he was not granted an early release on the basis of his medical condition and social circumstances. (He has got 8 biological and 5 adoptive children.) He has requested for early release twice: in 2010, and on 5 June 2012. Every prisoner is entitled to ask to be considered for early release when at least two thirds of their sentence has been served. In all discussions, these factors were disregarded and a file with 'secret information' was the only material considered.

Rikhawi from Gaza was arrested by Israeli occupation forces in 2004 and sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment by a military court. Israeli military courts have almost 100% conviction rate: 99.74% of those who are charged are convicted (Israeli Military Court report 2010).

During his hunger strike Rikhawi has only seen an independent doctor once, on 6 June. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-I) has made numerous requests to gain access to Rikhawi, but the Israeli authorities continually denied their requests.

Following the visit on 6 June, the PHR-I doctor reported that Rikhawi's weight had decreased from 68 kilos to 50 kilos, which is a total loss of 26.5%. The doctor further determined that a combination of inflammation of prior chronic illnesses and the complications of hunger strike rendered hospitalization immediately necessary, as he was at immediate risk of death. The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) medical centre is not a hospital, and it is not properly equipped to handle the physical deterioration and effects of long-term hunger strike.

Rikhawi has been held in the IPS medical unit in Ramleh ever since his initial arrest. On 14 June 2012 the Israeli District Court rejected a PHR-I appeal to transfer him to a civilian hospital despite his critical condition. The decision was based on a medical opinion of the IPS, which denies that his life is in danger. According to the PHR-I, 'this opinion is in complete contradiction to the one of the independent doctor, and is not referring to any medical data on which it is based. It also does not relate to the opinion of the independent doctor and the risks it cites.' Last week Rikhawi was briefly hospitalized to a civilian hospital several times, but returned to Ramleh prison clinic. This moving back and forth a patient in such a critical condition could also amount to a medical neglect. Rikhawi has also been shackled to his hospital bed with three limbs.

On Tuesday 19 June, Addameer lawyer, Ms. Neddaf, noted following her visit to Ramleh prison medical clinic that Rikhawi was extremely tired, weak and weighed only 49 kilos. Furthermore, since 16 June, he has been refusing any vitamins and fluids through an IV. (The IPS doctors' threats to force-feed and force-treat him, in addition to their determination not to recommend his medical condition as worthy of earlier release from prison, has led Rikhawi to regard them with deep distrust.) Though he is sustaining himself on water alone, Ms. Neddaf was troubled to observe that even drinking water was very difficult for him and he was only able to consume approximately one litre per day.

There are currently other hunger strikers in Israeli prisons that also need your attention, but Akram Rikhawi's situation is the most critical right now.

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Traduce: Alberto Smith Saravia

El preso político, diabético, Akram Rikhawi ha estado en huelga de hambre de 85 días y se encuentra en riesgo inminente de morir.

Según la Asociación Médica Mundial, en la mayoría de los casos la muerte se produce entre 42 y 72 º día de huelga de hambre. Rikhawi sufre de varias enfermedades crónicas: diabetes, asma, osteoporosis, problemas renales, y el deterioro de las lentes de sus ojos, colesterol alto, y la deficiencia inmunológica. Debido a estas condiciones pre-existentes Rikhawi huelga de hambre ha debilitado su cuerpo, y ya hace un mes que estaba en condición muy frágil. Ahora está en coma y su estado se deteriora rápidamente.

Akram Rikhawi una huelga de hambre el 12 de abril como una protesta cuando no se le concedió una liberación anticipada sobre la base de su condición médica... y las circunstancias sociales. (Él tiene 8 biológica y 5 hijos adoptivos.) Se ha solicitado la libertad anticipada dos veces: en 2010, y el 5 de junio de 2012. Todo recluso tendrá derecho a solicitar ser considerado para la libertad anticipada cuando al menos dos tercios de su condena se ha cumplido. En todas las discusiones, estos factores se tuvieron en cuenta y un archivo con 'información secreta' era el único material considerado.

Rikhawi de Gaza fue detenido por las fuerzas de ocupación israelíes en 2004 y condenado a 9 años de prisión por un tribunal militar. Los tribunales militares israelíes tienen casi el 100% tasa de condenas: 99,74% de los que pagan son condenados (informe israelí Tribunal Militar de 2010).

Durante su huelga de hambre Rikhawi sólo ha visto a un médico independiente una vez, el 6 de junio. Médicos por los Derechos Humanos-Israel (PHR-I) ha hecho numerosas peticiones para tener acceso a Rikhawi, pero las autoridades israelíes negaron continuamente a sus peticiones.

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