Political prisoner and anti-genocide hunger striker Umer Khalid has been forced to begin his planned thirst strike a day early, after prison authorities moved him into a ‘non-association’ solitary confinement cell, without a phone.

Umer Khalid: at serious risk

Umer Khalid is now under 24/7 monitoring and the prison will now not allow him to leave his cell or associate with other prisoners, but his ‘self advocacy’ forced the prison to back down and at least move him to a cell with a phone.

Khalid met with the prison’s duty governor, but the authorities are refusing to do the right thing and ease his and other political prisoners’ conditions.

In a statement released through supporters, Khalid said:

The government knew this was coming. For two weeks, we have witnessed their bloodlust through silence. I am not suicidal. I am not an extremist. I carry an intense love for my co-defendants, for political prisoners everywhere, and for all of humanity.

Supporters have called for a mass mobilisation at Wormwood Scrubs prison tonight, 24 January 2026, from 8pm to show solidarity and send a message to the prison management and the Starmer police state:

HMP Wormwood Scrubs, W12 0AE
24th January 2026
8pm

By Skwawkbox

This post was originally published on Canary.