On 30th November the Resistance Kitchen marked 116 days that the #Filton10 have been unjustly imprisoned without trial for disrupting the flow of weapons fuelling Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The 18 #FiltonHeroes ( 8 arrested just two weeks ago in addition to the original 10) are accused of breaking into Israel’s armaments research and development facility in Filton near Bristol and smashing over 1 million pounds worth of weapons, including drones used in the massacres of women and children sheltering in UN tents in Gaza.
The facility is owned by Israel’s Elbit Systems, which boasts of providing 85% of the weapons used in the commission of genocide in Gaza in which over 19,000 children have been slaughtered – unprecedented in modern history, the UN Relief and Works Agency calling it a “war on children”. The Elbit facility was opened last year by the Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotevely who has called for every inch of Palestinian land to be taken to create a Greater Israel.
UPDATE - Fatema Zainab Still Denied Mail
For nearly 4 months Fatema Zainab has been denied all mail! She is the only #Filton10 that has been singled out like this. When she asked where is her mail was she was initially told there was none – a blatant lie as we had personally hand delivered over 60 letters, postcards and even paintings by her young pupils.
We have repeatedly phoned the prison to complain, and at each visit we have talked to the person at reception – they have chased the post room, which is responsible for photocopying all incoming mail before passing the photocopy to the prisoner (for security, originals are not passed), but still no mail.
We wrote to Jonathan French, Director of HMP Bronzefield two months ago, we have not received any reply.
One of her pupils, 6 years old Amirali wrote to Mr French “Please let my best teacher see my painting. I miss her. Thank you”. Even his letter was ignored.
It now transpires that the mail has reached Fatema Zainab’s wing at the prison – there is a box full of photocopies of her mail sitting there, but security is not allowing her access to it. They say all her mail, including Amirali’s painting of a smile and a heart, is being withheld on security grounds as its “inappropriate”!
This is unacceptable.
The right to mail is so fundamental for prisoners that it is included in the United Nations’ Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners:
37. Prisoners shall be allowed under necessary supervision to communicate with their family and
reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits.
and is also part of the Geneva Convention:
Rule 125 Article 71 states that prisoners “shall be allowed to send and receive letters and cards”.
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v2/rule125
And of course there is specific legislation in the UK enshrining this right into law. The Prison Rules 1999 is an important piece of legislation which governs how prisons are run. It specifically states
“an unconvicted prisoner may send and receive as many letters and may receive as many visits as he wishes within such limits and subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State may direct”
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/728/part/II/crossheading/communications
Letter Writing Campaign - Demand Her Right To Mail
We have seen draconian condition lifted from another Filton 10 detainee after the prison was inundated by letters of complaint. Please make this happen again by writing a complaint to Jonathan French, Director of HMP Bronzefield:
Jonathan.French@sodexogov.co.uk
For Attention:
Jonathan French, Director of HMP Bronzefield
Dear Jonathan French,
I am appalled by the maltreatment of Fatema Zainab Rajwani, who has been detained at HMP Bronzefield on remand for 4 months.
Every detainee has the right to receive mail. This right is enshrined in the United Nations’ Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, and under UK legislation – The Prison Rules 1999. Why is her mail being withheld from her? Why is a painting by a 6 year old child a security risk that its ‘inappropriate’ to give a photocopy of it to Fatema Zainab?
Fatema Zainab, the only Muslim amongst the Filton 10, is the only person that is being isolated from her family, friends and community in this way by denying her the right to receive mail. This stinks of Islamophobia.
I demand you immediately stop this abuse of her rights and allow her access to her mail.
Awaiting your reply
Yours sincerely
Other Interesting Posts:
Eight More Unjustly Imprisoned – #Filton10 Day 109
Over 100 Days Of Unjust Imprisonment – #Filton10 Day 102
Three Months Unjustly Imprisoned – #Filton10 Day 95
Still Being Denied Mail – #Filton10
Perverted Judicial System – #Filton10 Unjustly Imprisoned 81 Days
Letter to HMP Bronzefield – Maltreatment of #Filton10
Free the #Filton10 – Unjustly Imprisoned for 67 Day
Unjustly Imprisoned For Over 50 Days – #Filton10 Day 53
Teacher Joins Pupils In Writing To #Filton10
#Filton10 – Day 46
#Filton10 – Day 39 – Malcolm X in Gaza
#Filton10 Preliminary Hearing