[IPSM] URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Mahjoub close to death

[IPSM]

MOHAMMAD MAHJOUB CLOSE TO DEATH - AUTHORITIES REFUSE HOSPITALIZATION

On Day 73 of his hunger strike, Mohammad Mahjoub is very weak and in
constant pain. After 5 years of detention on secret evidence and without
being charged, he does not wish to end his hunger strike, saying that it
is the only way left for him to fight for his dignity and that of his
family.

Mahjoub has asked to be hospitalized and will accept an IV. There is an
infirmary inside the Toronto West Detention Centre, but prison
authorities are refusing to send him there. He is at imminent risk of
permanent, severe impairment and, very possibly of death.

PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE MOHAMMAD MAHJOUB'S LIFE

  1. Call and FAX Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Monte Kwinter,
Minister of Correctional Services, to demand that Mahjoub be
hospitalized, and that someone from the government meet with him, his
family and his support committee to discuss his demands.

(see numbers and sample letter below)

2. MONTREAL: Rally Monday, September 19, 11:45 am, at Paul Martin
â
™s office
  400 d€
â
€
™Youville square (corner of McGill) metro Square Victoria
Keep up the pressure for Mahjoub
â
€
™s demands for contact visits with his
children and proper medical care be met.

3. TORONTO: Protest Monday, September 19, 12 Noon, at 25 Grosvenor Street
(two blocks north of Yonge and College in downtown Toronto), at the office
of Corrections Minister Monte Kwinter, then walk to Queen's Park to demand
a meeting with the Premier Dalton McGuinty

Premier Dalton McGuinty
PHONE: (416) 325-1941
FAX: (416) 325-3745
email: dalton.mcguinty at premier.gov.on.ca

Monte Kwinter
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Phone: (416) 325-0408
Fax: (416) 325-6067
Email: mkwinter.mpp at liberal.ola.org

SAMPLE LETTER

Premier Dalton McGuinty
Queen's Park
Toronto
PHONE: (416) 325-1941
FAX: (416) 325-3745
email: dalton.mcguinty at premier.gov.on.ca
(cc: mkwinter.mpp at liberal.ola.org)

Re: 72-Day Hunger strike of Mohammad Mahjoub

Dear Mr. McGuinty

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to save the life of
Mohammad Mahjoub, who has been detained without trial in an Ontario prison
for over five years and is now on Day 75 of a hunger strike (Sept. 19) to
demand minimally decent conditions of detention. His main demands include
proper medical treatment for hepatitis C (a prescribed liver biopsy has
been denied), medical care for a knee injury,
eyeglasses, and touch visits with his young children once a month.

Mr. Mahjoub is very weak and at imminent risk of death or severe,
permanent impairment. He has asked to be hospitalized and will accept an
IV. There is a hospital unit inside the Toronto West Detention Centre, but
prison authorities are refusing to send him there, stating that they will
not hospitalize a hunger striker unless he is in a coma. By that time,
there is a major risk of irreversible damage.

Please intervene immediately to ask correctional authorities to
hospitalize Mohammad Mahjoub without delay. In addition, please
authorize a government representative to meet with Mr. Mahjoub's
representatives, including his wife, Mona Elfouli (contact Matthew
Behrens, at (416) 651-5800 or tasc at web.ca) to reach a just and humane
solution to this crisis.

A man's life is in your hands. So is Canada's international reputation
with regard to human rights.

Sincerely,

(name)

(address)

CC
Hon. Monte Kwinter
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services