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Canadian Supermax Inmate Also on Hunger Strike

By Jeralyn, Section Inmates and Prisons
Posted on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 12:42:38 PM EST
Tags: hunger strike, SuperMax (all tags)
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Related to my long post on Shoe Bomber Richard Reid's hunger strike at Supermax in Florence, Colorado, I see that the Canadian press is reporting that convicted terrorist Mohammed Mansour Jabarah, serving life at Supermax, is also on a hunger strike:

Mohammed Mansour Jabarah has refused to eat since mid-April and prison officials are allegedly pumping food into his stomach using a tube inserted in his nose. The convicted al-Qaeda terrorist is protesting restrictions on his mail, his lawyer said, but his father said Jabarah and other Muslim inmates also want to pray together.

The ACLU condemns force-feeding here.

< "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid On Hunger Strike, Gov't. to End SAMS | Gunman Shoots Two at Holocaust Museum >

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    Canadian Supermax Inmate Also on Hunger Strike | 30 comments (30 topical)

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    So what? (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by WeaponX on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:13:51 PM EST
    The ACLU is protesting their force feeding but they'd also protest letting him starve to death. The only way you will make the ACLU happy is to put them all the terror suspects up in a penthouse somewhere with every convenience they could ever want, an American flag doormat, and an occassional infidel to slaughter. They have less than zero credibility of this issue as far as I'm concerned. They offer tons of complaints and no solutions.

    Personally I think if these murderers and would be murderers wish to starve to death than let them strave. Save the tax payers some money.

    It's not the ACLU's job (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:18:38 PM EST
    to offer solutions, only to attempt to preserve civil liberty, and thank the sun god for that. I don't think the ACLU would protest allowing hunger strikes, my friend.

    I do agree that every human being should have the right to refuse to eat.

    Parent

    Perhaps (none / 0) (#3)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:22:35 PM EST

    I don't think the ACLU would protest allowing hunger strikes, my friend.

    But then they would protest the cruel and heartless conditions that drove the poor unfortunate mistreated prisoner to engage in the hunger strike.

    Parent

    Ya got me there... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:30:09 PM EST
    and thank the sun god for that too:)

    Parent
    Um if this was a Gitmo thing (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 02:29:00 PM EST
    or even a prisoner convicted by military commission I'd be outraged, but seriously, what should the Prison system do- the guys on a hunger strike, force-feeding seems wrong, but then again so does starvation, mail-restriction seems wrong but as far as I can tell is a reasonable restriction on freedom, and group prayer would seem to pose possible security risks.  

    I feel for the guy. (none / 0) (#19)
    by Fabian on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 03:17:53 PM EST
    He tried to commit suicide once before (and take an entire plane along with him) and now he's trying again.

    This is where I get confused by what one does with a mentally ill person who refuses treatment.  Either he's sane and completely in control of his fate, or he's suicidally depressed and should be treated for severe depression.  Not sure if it's legal to forcibly treat someone for a mental illness, even if it would be in his best interests.

    As for his demands, I wonder how many other prisoners have those privileges now.  And how many of them attempted mass murder in a fit of religious fervor.

    Is suicide a civil right?  Is it possible that sane people commit suicide?

    Parent

    I've actually caught some of those (none / 0) (#27)
    by nycstray on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 06:50:23 PM EST
    late night prison shows on MSNBC. They do hold prayer groups in differnet forms depending on the situation. Saw one where they had the inmates in an area, all in sep cells at the end of a hall with the minister (or whatever he was called) leading the group from the hallway. It was a ritual there with that group. I've seen others where they had them in an actual church and another where NA's had an outside space to carry out their rituals. You would think in a SM prison they could figure out a way for them to worship sep but still in a group. maybe not several times a day, but something could be worked out?

    Parent
    Well, (none / 0) (#5)
    by bocajeff on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:31:47 PM EST
    I'm wondering why I should care?

    I know I'm supposed to be 'empathetic' to their plight, but I have a hard time giving one iota of care towards these individuals. There are plenty of INNOCENT, LAW ABIDING, HARDWORKING, people who need daily assistance. I understand the theoretical issues at hand, but they pale in comparison to the efforts which need to be extended to those who DESERVE assistance.

    then perhaps (5.00 / 0) (#10)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 01:42:10 PM EST
    you need to be reminded to find a blog more compatible with your views. This one is dedicated to preserving and fostering the rights of the criminally accused.

    Parent
    Point of order (