Human rights advocates slammed a judge’s decision Monday to give California prison officials the green light to force-feed prisoners who are on hunger strike by deeming “do not resuscitate” orders signed by inmates invalid.
“This [court decision] violates all international laws and standards and gives the medical director of each prison authority to violate human rights laws instead of reasonably negotiating with prisoners,” declared Claude Marks of the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition.
The ruling, passed by U.S. District Court Judge Thelton E. Henderson in response to requests from state authorities, contradicts a California state law explicitly prohibiting force-feedings for prisoners who signed orders that they be allowed to die.
State officials argued in the courts that prisoners signed the papers under coercion by what they allege is gang control, and the judge acquiesced, ruling that the “do not resuscitate” orders no longer have legal standing.
Prisoners and their allies charge that unproven claims of gang coercion are levied by prison authorities in attempt to break the hunger strike, dehumanize inmates and justify cruel collective punishment.
“CDCR’s [the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s] approach is hopeless and dangerous,” declared Azadeh Zohrabi, spokesperson for the Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition. “It perpetuates a logic that says it is okay to torture someone based on their criminal convictions. It creates prison conditions that destroy people physically and mentally, and arbitrarily metes out punishment that exceeds any sentences passed down by the courts.”
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