On 28th December the Resistance Kitchen marked 144 days that the #Filton10, now #Filton18, have been unjustly imprisoned without trial for trying to stop the flow of Israeli arms from the UK being used to commit genocide in Gaza.
Abuse Of Terror Powers
Whilst none of the 18 have been charged with any terrorism related charges, the state has purposely used draconian anti-terror powers in their arrests and left a vague ‘terrorism related’ cloud hanging over them so at every step they have been treated as terrorists. Because of this they have been denied bail, and in prison they are caged as high risk category A prisoners with extra restrictions imposed on them that other remand prisoners don’t face. Many of these restrictions are arbitrary, applied to some of the Filton 18 detainees but not to others. For example the non-association rule where two Filton detainees cannot be in the same area at the same time – like the library or gym – have only been applied to the women, the men have been free to associate.
Denial Of Mail
Also within the women some have had more restrictions applied. Fatema Zainab has been denied mail. This is illegal. 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. Apparently there is a big box full of photocopies of her mail spanning 5 months sitting in her wing. But security is not allowing her access to it. They say all her mail, including a painting of a smile and heart by her 6 year old pupil with the words “you are the best teacher I miss you” , is being withheld on security grounds as its “inappropriate”!
Phone In Campaign
As part of the campaign to lift this denial of mail, Palestine Action coordinated a phone in requesting people to all phone the prison on the same day politely demanding Fatema Zainab’s right to mail be respected. It was very effective with hundreds of people phoning in jamming the prison phone lines. Its much harder to ignore than emails which can be deleted with one key press.
Punishing Detainees
A shameful underhanded tactic the prison often uses it to punish detainees for actions they are not even aware of let alone have any control over. We have seen a detainee punished for receiving a book from an anonymous well wisher, the book was an academic text ordered from a prison approved bookseller. But the prison decided the political subject wasn’t suitable and punished the detainee. When a protest was held outside HMP Bronzefield, the filton detainees inside were punished. Some vists were cancelled for no reason, and all the detainees had arbitrary people on their approved contact list banned from any future contact for 6 months – this included visits, phone calls and even letters. No reason was given. It’s as if the prison is holding the detainees hostage to curtail our legal activity outside of the prison – something incompatible with a democracy.
In the case of the mass phone in, Fatema Zainab was held responsible even though she was not even aware it was taking place. Her intimidation meant it had to be called off, and the post on social media was taken down prematurely.
Mail Finally Trickling In
It never the less had the desired effect, and now we are seeing new mail gradually trickling in to her. But she is still being denied the backlog box of 5 month’s of mail – hundreds of letters, postcards and the paintings from her pupils.
Other Interesting Posts:
Unjustly Imprisoned 137 Days – Second Protest Outside HMP Bronzefield – Filton18
Fatema Zainab Still Denied Mail – #Filton10 Day 116
Eight More Unjustly Imprisoned – #Filton10 Day 109
Over 100 Days Of Unjust Imprisonment – #Filton10 Day 102
Still Being Denied Mail – #Filton10
Perverted Judicial System – #Filton10 Unjustly Imprisoned 81 Days
Letter to HMP Bronzefield – Maltreatment of #Filton10
A Mothers Plea…
Unjustly Imprisoned For Over 50 Days – #Filton10 Day 53
Free Political Prisoners Exhibition
#Filton10 – Day 39 – Malcolm X in Gaza
#Filton10 Preliminary Hearing