An Edinburgh Doctor accused of being a part of the new IRA, has sparked a hunger strike movement inside a dissident Republican prison wing.
Dr Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, 62 - who is a well-known figure in the Palestinian community of Scotland - is protesting spending 28 days in isolation at a Northern Irish prison due to COVID measures.
The Edinburgh resident was arrested alongside ten others on a terrorism charge, following an operation by the police and MI5 to intercept those allegedly attending a meeting of the New IRA.
Mr. Bassala was arrested at Heathrow Airport on August 22 where he was remanded in custody at Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn, after allegedly attending the IRA meet-up in Omagh on July 19.
The doctor went on a hunger strike after protesting spending 14 days quarantining on arrival at HMP Maghaberry, before being put in self-isolation again after returning to the prison from Craigavon Area Hospital, following an MRI scan.
Dr Issam Hijjawi Bassalat, who has a heart condition and back problems has been refusing food since September 16 in a protest against the 28-day isolation period.
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Around 20 other inmates in Roe House, the wing that houses dissident republican prisoners, have also gone on hunger strike in solidarity with Mr. Bassalat.
A spokeswoman for the NI Prison Service said: "The Prison Service takes very seriously the safety of staff and all those placed in our care, and is committed to doing everything possible to prevent the spread of Covid19 in our prisons.
"If the prisoner does not develop COVID symptoms, he will return to Roe House on Tuesday."
