Elham Asaad Buaras
HMP Bronzefield, a women’s prison in Surrey, is facing mounting scrutiny over the alleged mistreatment of Fatema Zainab Rajwani, a 20-year-old activist from Palestine Action. Fatema, one of the ten Palestine Action members detained following an August protest against Elbit Systems—an Israeli weapons manufacturer—in Filton, Bristol, is currently held on remand.
Concerns over Fatema’s treatment were highlighted in a letter sent on October 17 by Resistance Kitchen, an NGO focused on human rights and equitable food access, to Jonathan French, the Director of HMP Bronzefield. The letter highlighted serious allegations, including “unnecessary intrusive medical tests” such as forced urine tests conducted at an alarming rate—“50 times the frequency allowed by prison regulations.” Resistance Kitchen argued that these actions violate Article 3 of the Human Rights Act, which prohibits torture, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
The letter continues with troubling allegations regarding the withholding of Fatema’s mail. Despite the group personally delivering items—including letters, postcards, and paintings—Resistance Kitchen reports that ‘none have reportedly reached her.’ The NGO claims that the prison’s failure to deliver her correspondence is an intentional attempt to further isolate her.
On November 2, Resistance Kitchen joined over 100 supporters of the #Filton10 outside HMP Bronzefield to protest the unjust conditions and arbitrary restrictions imposed on the detained #Filton10 women. In an update, the group stated that Fatema ‘is the only #Filton10 who is being denied all mail. We estimate well over 100 letters have been sent to her. We ourselves have hand delivered nearly 60 letters, postcards, and paintings to the prison, some 6 weeks ago. None have reached her. When she asks the guards where her mail is, she is told there is none.’
Six of the #Filton10: Samuel Corner, 22; Jordon Devlin, 30; Charlotte Head, 28; Leona Kameo, 28; Fatema Rajwani, 20; and Zoe Rogers, 20.(Credit: Palestine Action)
Concerns about Fatema’s religious rights also came to light. Resistance Kitchen claimed that male prison officers entered her cell unannounced, preventing her from wearing her hijab. They also alleged that Fatema was denied access to a weekly Islamic class led by the prison chaplain and that she was not allowed to receive Islamic books. Furthermore, Fatema and the other women detained in connection with the Filton protest have been subject to an arbitrary non-association order (NAO), which significantly restricts their visitation hours and participation in prison activities. The NGO argued that this order is an attempt to isolate the detainees, likening it to solitary confinement, which they claim is detrimental to Fatema’s mental health.
Resistance Kitchen campaigners protest for the freedom of the #Filton10
In an alarming development, Fatema was unable to attend her own court hearing due to inadequate video link facilities, further underscoring the harsh conditions she faces.
In an exclusive interview with The Muslim News, Fatema’s mother, Sukaina Rajwani, condemned the state’s actions, accusing it of “misusing the Terrorism Act to suppress pro-Palestine voices and anti-war activists while we witness a live-streamed genocide on our screens.”
She also appealed to Shabana Mahmood, Secretary of State for Justice, calling on her to “stop the misuse of terror legislation against direct actionists” and to cease supporting the genocide of Palestinians by prioritising Israeli arms manufacturers over its citizens. Rajwani expressed concern over the far-reaching consequences of the legal actions against the Filton10, particularly the impact on their bail applications and prison life. She added, “And especially for Fatema Zainab, coupled with Islamophobia, which is very present in British prisons, the past 3 plus months have been a challenging journey.”
Rajwani continued to describe the harsh conditions Fatema is enduring, including being subjected to multiple random drug tests, non-association orders, the withholding of her mail, and lack of access to religious resources. These challenges, she said, have only been exacerbated by the long wait until the trial date in November 2025, which could mean over 16 months in prison without a trial or conviction.
The situation escalated further on November 19 when counter-terrorism police raids across the UK resulted in the arrest of 10 more Palestine Action activists. Family members and roommates of the detainees were forcibly removed from their homes for up to three days. In one instance, an individual’s mother and younger brother were handcuffed during the raid, despite no charges being filed against them.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action strongly criticized the use of counter-terrorism powers, stating: “The British state is wielding these powers against those engaged in direct action against Israel’s weapons trade to protect the interests of a foreign genocidal regime, undermining the rights of its own citizens. The only ‘terrorists’ here are those aiding Israel’s genocide. Palestine Action will not bow to this repression.”
Naila Ahmed, Head of Campaigns at CAGE International, accused the government of building “an infrastructure of authoritarian laws.” And the police “acting as an extension of a genocidal entity, exploiting every power to crush resistance to the mass killing of humans in Gaza.”
The Prison and Probation Service, the Home Office, and the Ministry of Justice have been approached for comment regarding the allegations of mistreatment of Fatema, but they have not provided an official statement.
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