MOHAMMAD MAHJOUB CLOSE TO DEATH AUTHORITIES REFUSE HOSPITALIZATION

On Day 75 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’s office 400 d’Youville square (corner of McGill) metro Square Victoria. Keep up the pressure for Mahjoub’s demands for contact visits with his children and proper medical care be met.

Premier Dalton McGuinty PHONE: (416) 325-1941 FAX: (416) 325-3745 email: [email protected]

Monte Kwinter Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Phone: (416) 325-0408 Fax: (416) 325-6067 Email: [email protected]

SAMPLE LETTER

Premier Dalton McGuinty Queen’s Park Toronto PHONE: (416) 325-1941 FAX: (416) 325-3745 email: [email protected] (cc: [email protected])

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 [email protected]) 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

: mm