PPC: Health of Prisoner Akram Mansour Sharply Deteriorates

The health of Palestinian prisoner Akram Mansour has deteriorated sharply and he has lost 18 kgs in one month, according to a press release by the Palestinian Prisoners Club (PPC) Thursday. Mansour, 51, suffers from a brain tumor and is convicted for 35 years in prison, of which he has completed 33. Despite this, prison administration insists on keeping him. Mansour had been rushed to Soroka hospital in Beersheva, south of Israel, on March 25, 2011, after a serious deterioration in his health. Israel has rejected all pleas by the prisoner's family and humanitarian and official organizations to release him due to his serious health condition. In addition, the Israeli court postponed a January 21, 2011 hearing for him, in a deliberate policy of neglect. 1500 Palestinian sick prisoners are currently held in Israeli prisons, according to the PPC.