Tuesday, April 20, evening update: Mumia called his wife Wadiya, had a good conversation, and Wadiya says that he sounds strong!
Tuesday, April 20, morning update: We just heard from the medical attorneys that Mumia is recovering well from the surgery. Mumia is getting minimal oxygen and one IV which is a good sign. We have not yet heard from Mumia but we expect he will be able to call his family today. We need to see him, hear from him, and know that he has the proper rehabilitation plan. Mumia’s wife Wadiya says, “I won’t know he is ok until i hear from him directly.”
--On April 20, this statement was released by the United Nations Human Rights Council condemning the hospital shackling of Mumia Abu-Jamal:
Mr. Abu-Jamal has been denied visits from his family and access to his lawyers and spiritual advisor after being admitted to an undisclosed hospital around 10 April, where he will reportedly undergo surgery. "This ongoing and continuing cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, including deliberate disregard of his dignity and inhumane conditions of confinement, is a clear violation of Mr. Abu-Jamal's most fundamental rights," the experts added. Neither his family nor lawyers have been informed of his medical condition and treatment.
"The use of shackles during his hospital stays is deplorable, and causes Mr. Abu-Jamal additional and unnecessary suffering," said the experts. "International standards on the treatment of prisoners clearly stipulate that instruments of restraint are to be imposed only when no lesser form of control would be effective to address the risks posed by unrestricted movement."
Read the full statement here and here also.
Following the release of the UN statement, the Middle East Eye published a lengthy article. An excerpt is reprinted below:
'Shackled to a bed': UN experts condemn US treatment of Black journalist
--Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther member, in jail since 1981, has been subject to 'unnecessary suffering', UN experts say
Maria A Bivens, press secretary for the Department of Correctional Services (DOC) in Pennsylvania, told Middle East Eye that the DOC was "following all legal and internal policies and procedures as it relates to the health and well-being of inmate Abu-Jamal."
"Because of confidentiality, I cannot address certain statements in the release that are inaccurate," Bivens said.
Meanwhile, activists following Abu-Jamal's situation accused authorities of trying to accelerate his death.
"It does appear like an attempt to try and kill him in prison," Suzanne Ross, an activist and long time supporter of Abu-Jamal, told MEE.
"The United States gets a way with a lot of things. There is a huge prevalence of police brutality. So many Black people have been killed by the police. Everyone is making a fuss about the jury finding Chauvin guilty, when it is such an exception to the rule."
"And you cannot be fooled by that. They gonna play this up by showing that America is great.
"I think its very significant that this UN report came out on the same day as the conviction and it shows a greater determination to do something about these crimes in the US," Ross added.