A young prisoner is on a hunger strike because he is being refused rehabilitation.

Alexander Anthony Gialanzé Whiteford, 27, said he had been refusing meals for the past two days because the prison authorities would not put him on a rehabilitation programme, even though he had already obtained the necessary permission.

He said that when he asked the prison authorities for an explanation he was told that pending court cases against him would first have to be decided before he could be sent to a rehabilitation centre.

Mr Gialanzé Whiteford has been in prison for about a year after being convicted for threatening his mother and damaging her property. He was also charged with theft and illegally possessing a pistol.

Prison board director Ivan Mifsud said prisoners were officially considered to be on hunger strike after not eating for a day, in which case the prison followed very strict rules.

Any medication they received was withheld for the duration of the protest and they were put under constant medical supervision. Their cell was also raided for any food they may have hidden to ensure they were serious about the hunger strike.

"I've heard about many protests before but they turn out to be nothing most of the time... Most prisoners don't refuse meals for very long or they're caught eating food they've hidden in their cells," he said.

A prisoner who preferred to remain anonymous said he admired anyone who tried to go on a hunger strike: "That is our only weapon against the prison. It is the only way we can protest."

Asked whether he would do it himself, he firmly said he would not. "I'm not crazy," he said.

kbugeja@timesofmalta.com