{"id":18120,"date":"2012-03-26T12:00:22","date_gmt":"2012-03-26T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=18120"},"modified":"2012-03-22T17:11:44","modified_gmt":"2012-03-22T17:11:44","slug":"the-ordeal-of-hana-shalabi-medical-urgency-and-spiritual-defiance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2012\/03\/the-ordeal-of-hana-shalabi-medical-urgency-and-spiritual-defiance\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ordeal of Hana Shalabi: Medical Urgency and Spiritual Defiance"},"content":{"rendered":"

The respected human rights NGOs<\/a>, Addameer-Palestine and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel<\/a>, have expressed their deep concern for the mortal danger facing Hana Shalabi who continues her historic hunger strike<\/a> to protest abuse that she experienced and her objections to the Israeli<\/a> practice of prolonged detention without charges, without trial. There are reported to be currently as many as 24 other Palestinians in administrative detention<\/a> that have declared their own hunger strike in solidarity with Hana Shalabi\u2019s protest.<\/p>\n

There are signs of growing expressions of global awareness and solidarity, including a vigil in Trafalgar Square on 23 March at 6:30 pm and Day of Action in Glascow, Scotland on the following day. There are new allegations that even in her present circumstances of clinging to life, she has been abused by prison authorities, and her family has been denied visitation rights.\u00a0 Her father, Yahya Shalabi, is quoted as saying, \u201cMy daughter sticks to her words and promises. She has committed to do this for herself and Palestine.\u201d And Hana Shalabi has herself said of this sacrificial commitment, \u201c[i]t is true that our lives are very precious, but our freedom is even more precious and more powerful than their cells.\u201d Although Israeli newspapers refer to Hana Shalabi in the dehumanizing rhetoric of \u00a0\u2018a terrorist suspect\u2019 without even acknowledging that a hunger strike is the absolute opposite of terrorism: it turns violence against the innocent self so as to illuminate the wrongs of the guilty other who is rendered exempted from physical harm, and to the extent that others are targets at all, it is in the form of extraordinary appeals to their consciousness and conscience. We all must not allow these acts of spiritual defiance<\/em> be in vain. I am posting below the statement released by PHR-I two days ago and a revised version of an earlier post of mine that was published a few \u00a0days earlier by Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n

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Full text of Physicians for Human Rights<\/a> \u2013 Israel statement<\/p>\n

On the 33rd day of her hunger strike, administrative detainee Hana Shalabi is in danger of imminent death<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

On the 33rd day of her hunger strike, administrative detainee Hana Shalabi is in danger of imminent death. An independent physician from Physicians for Human Rights \u2013 Israel (PHR-Israel) examined her today and determined that she must be hospitalized immediately<\/em><\/p>\n

Physicians for Human Rights: the Prison Service<\/a> treatment of Shalabi violates medical ethics<\/em><\/p>\n

Hana Shalabi, an administrative detainee held at the Sharon Prison, has been on hunger strike for more than a month, in protest of her violent detention, the humiliating and hurtful search that was conducted on her upon her detention, and also in protest of being held in administrative detention. A hearing on her case is expected to be held at the military court.<\/em><\/p>\n

This morning (March 19th) an independent physician visited Hana Shalabi on behalf of PHR-Israel, and she states that there has been a significant deterioration in her condition, and that she risks death. The deterioration is expressed in a process of muscle breakdown, with a weight loss of 14 kg (31 lb.) since the onset of the hunger strike, a very slow pulse, and a drop in blood sodium levels. These symptoms could indicate grave damage to the heart and the beginning of the breakdown of the heart muscle, which could lead to heart failure at any moment.<\/em><\/p>\n

Additionally, her body temperature is low (hypothermia), recorded at 35.05<\/em>C (95.09F), with Shalabi reporting that she feels cold. This finding indicates that the energy production in her body is mostly directed at the essential organs, which also indicates possible damage to the heart, which could be expressed in arrhythmia, systemic deterioration, or sudden death. The attending physician adds that Shalabi is not taking medications, has gone from ambulatory independence to being dependent on others for locomotion, and suffers from significant weakness, low blood pressure, serious pain throughout her body, significant sensitivity in her upper abdominal region, and serious dizziness.<\/em><\/p>\n

The results of the blood test taken on March 14th indicate a drop in the levels of blood glucose and sodium, and damage to the thyroid functions. The thyroid plays a critical role in maintaining body temperature, as well as heart, liver, and brain function. Significant damage to the thyroid gland could lead to a coma, and this possibility is clearly present with regard to Shalabi. Additionally, blood work done today indicates disruption of the clotting functionality, and a significant lack of iron and vitamins.<\/em><\/p>\n

Following her examination, the physician has determined that Shalabi is in immediate danger to her life, and recommended that she be transported to a hospital with no delay, for close supervision and follow-up. The Prison Service has announced that it has transported Shalabi to the Meir Hospital<\/a> in Kfar Saba pursuant to the recommendation of the physician.<\/em><\/p>\n

Physicians For Human Rights Israel today calls out the problematic conduct by the Israeli Prison Service<\/a> in its treatment of Hana Shalabi:<\/em><\/p>\n