On Saturday 5th October 2024, the Resistance Kitchen marked day 60 of the unjust imprisonment of 10 activists who tried to stop genocide in Gaza by disarming Israel’s main producer of arms Elbit Systems’ UK research and production facility in Filton, Bristol.
This week several ongoing problems at HMP Bronzefield have come to the surface with Palestine Action issuing two calls to action (see below).
Abuse Of Anti-Terror Powers
All the problems seem to stem from the Filton10’s initial re-arrest under anti-terrorism powers. Though no terrorism charges where made, it seems that HMP Bronzefield’s governor Jonathan French has arbitrarily decided to treat the six women as terrorists. So they are kept strictly isolated from each other. This means:
- They are kept on separate floors / wings, so some end up in the wrong category areas like ‘induction wing’ or ‘escape risk’ and then they are made to suffer as a consequence. For examples those under ‘escape risk’ have severe restrictions, like being banned from wearing normal cloths, no phone, no books, and have to undergo checks every hour by the guards.
- They are not permitted to have visits in the same visiting slot as the other Filton10, as that would mean they would be in the same visiting hall at the same time. There are only two visiting slots a day, this means they have to share these between the six of them, ie for every six visits that they are entitled to, they only get one.
- They are not permitted to participate in the same prison activity as the other #Filton10. So for example if one has chosen the bicycle shop, then that activity is barred for the other 5.
These are arbitrarily decisions this private prison has made. The non-association orders make no sense as male #Filton10 detainees in HMP Wormwood Scrubs are allowed to freely associate. This ridiculous situation was witnessed at their last hearing in court where 3 of the #Filton10 women were not permitted to attend their own court hearing as HMP Bronzefield didn’t have enough video links rooms for all the women to use. All the #Filton10 men, allowed to associate, shared one video link. This is a serious encroachment of the women’s rights to a fair trial.
The court has not charged them with terrorism, they should not be treated as terrorists, and should be afforded the same rights as any other remand prisoner.
Calls To Action
Palestine Action issued two calls to action this week:
Palestine Action political prisoner, Zoë Rogers, turns 21 today!
October 2nd 2024:
She’s been detained since taking action to dismantle the Filton, Bristol-based research hub of Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. Send her birthday messages in the comments and directly to her by emailing palactprisoners@protonmail.com with the subject heading ‘FAO: Zoë’.
Zoë, is one of five others being held in HMP Bronzefield, after being originally detained without charge for one week under the Terrorism Act. All six in the female prison have been banned from associating with one amother, leading to Zoe being
– stuck in the induction wing, not the youth wing
– unable to take part in some prison activities
– reduction in visits as they can’t be in the prison hall if others from the group are there.
She’s also been restricted in the books she can have, despite many sending and paying for them to be given to her.
For Zoë and the others, please contact the prison and ask for the governor, Jonathan French, and demand that the ban on association is dropped and to stop restricting Zoë’s access to books.
📞01784 425690
📧press.office@sodexo.com
📧Jonathan.French@sodexogov.co.uk
🚨SUPPORT NEEDED FOR A PALESTINE ACTION POLITICAL PRISONER 🚨
October 7th 2024:
Madeleine Norman has been on remand for nearly 2 months, after they were accused of being connected to an action which cost Israel’s largest weapons firm over £1million in damages. Upon arrest under the Terrorism Act, Madeleine was kept in solitary confinement, interrogated repeatedly and had two addresses raided. Now, they’ve been charged with non-terror offences and imprisoned in HMP Bronzefield, but they are facing severe repression inside.
Madeleine has been categorised as an escape risk for approx two weeks now, which means:
– All clothes have been taken away, forcing them to wear a blue and yellow ‘escape suit’ which is taken off them when they are in the cell.
– A guard checks on them every hour, day and night, disturbing their sleep and constantly invading their privacy
– Madeleine isn’t allowed ANY books
– They have been put in a cell with NO phone
– Madeleine has been denied contact with their Scottish legal representatives in relation to a separate case involving an action which disrupted producers of laser targeting systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets.
The categorisation as an escape risk was allegedly due to a drawing Madeleine made of their cell. However, Yasmin, the head of security who placed Madeleine on the e-list, implied they’d never seen the drawing and the designation was largely due to ‘intel’ that she couldn’t disclose. Yasmin went on to partially justify the decision to place the actionist on the ‘e-list’ by saying Madeleine ‘knew the crimes they had committed’. It’s clear that the restriction Madeleine faces is a political decision to target them due to their alleged involvement in targeting Israel’s weapons trade.
Do not let them get away with treating Palestine Action’s political prisoners like this. Help us pressure the prison by calling/emailing the governor, Jonathan French, to demand Madeleine is removed from the escape list and non-association orders with others from our group are dropped.
📞 01784 425690
📧 press.office@sodexo.com
📧 Jonathan.French@sodexogov.co.uk
Weekly Kitchen - Another Busy Week
Other Interesting Posts:
“Let my best teacher see my painting” – 6 year old writes to HMP Bronzefield
Letter to HMP Bronzefield – Maltreatment of #Filton10
A Mothers Plea…
Free the #Filton10 – Unjustly Imprisoned for 67 Day
Remembering Wafa al-Udaini
Teacher Joins Pupils In Writing To #Filton10
#Filton10 – Day 46
#Filton10 Preliminary Hearing
Unjustly Imprisoned For Over A Month – #Filton10 Day 32
#Filton10 : Day 25 – Imprisoned For Trying To Stop Genocide
Why is the Met running ‘off the books’ facial recognition surveillance of #Filton10 Palestine protest?
Solidarity with the #Filton10