Monday, June 13, 2011

Hebron detainee starts hunger strike in Israeli prison

HEBRON (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian detainee on Sunday went on hunger strike to protest his treatment by Israeli prison guards, a rights group said.

Israeli forces detained Atif Wureidat in 2002. Prison authorities have transferred him more than 30 times, Hebron prisoners' association director Amjad Najjar said.

Wureidat has heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, Najjar added.

He was first detained at the age of 16, and spent 11 years in prison between 1982 and 1993.

After the second Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000, he was wanted by Israeli forces for more than two years.

He was detained on May 3, 2002, and sentenced to 11 years and 3 months.