Farah Damji, 58, is fighting a battle on two fronts, stage 3 breast cancer and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (c-PTSD), while being imprisoned for non-violent offences. Her story brings into sharp focus the dire need for reform in how the prison system handles women’s health, particularly cancer care. Despite her worsening condition, Farah’s human rights have been flagrantly violated by the justice system, and she is being denied the medical attention and justice she desperately needs.

Farah’s case has recently drawn widespread attention, with articles highlighting her plight reaching major outlets like Fox News. In a harrowing report by The Mirror, it was revealed that Farah has been denied bail to seek chemotherapy, leaving her terrified that she will die behind bars. Her oncologist has made a dire prognosis, telling her that without treatment, she has a 23% chance of surviving the next 5 years. Yet, despite this urgent medical need, she remains incarcerated at HMP Bronzefield, a women’s prison notorious and widely condemned for poor healthcare run by CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, and overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.

Farah denies all charges against her and is remanded for non-violent offences—charges that she contends. Her legal team has worked tirelessly to secure bail, even offering £30,000 in cash security to ensure she could receive urgent chemotherapy, but three judges have denied her request. The injustice is compounded by the fact that Farah’s condition continues to deteriorate, and her ability to access life-saving treatment remains blocked by a legal system that appears indifferent to her suffering.

Farah’s journey took a traumatic turn in April, when she underwent a triple lumpectomy to treat her breast cancer. After the life-saving 13-hour surgery, she was chained to a prison guard for three weeks while she recovered. The cruelty of this treatment not only delayed her recovery but also further exacerbated the emotional and physical toll on her body.

The conditions at HMP Bronzefield, one of the most overcrowded women’s prisons in the UK, have been widely condemned for their unsanitary and unhealthy nature. Farah’s oncologist, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon Mr. Dibendu Betal from University College London Hospitals (UCLH), has raised serious concerns about the prison’s ability to provide adequate care during her chemotherapy. He stated that the prison’s overcrowding makes isolation impossible—something crucial when undergoing chemotherapy, as it leaves patients highly vulnerable to infections like neutropenic sepsis. In his expert opinion, remaining at HMP Bronzefield poses a direct and severe threat to Farah’s already fragile health.

The lack of empathy and disregard for Farah’s condition is a stark example of systemic neglect towards women’s health within the justice system. Farah is not only battling an aggressive form of cancer, but also the trauma of being treated as less than human by a system that has failed to protect her rights. The prison’s failure to ensure her health and safety underscores a broader issue: the inadequacies in how the justice system addresses women’s healthcare needs, particularly when it comes to life-threatening illnesses like cancer.

Farah’s situation is a tragic reminder of the urgent need for reform. Women in prison, especially those battling cancer, should not be subjected to inhumane conditions or denied the medical care they need to survive. The justice system must recognize that, while crime may be punishable, the suffering of women in custody should never be ignored, especially when their lives are on the line. Farah’s case highlights the glaring flaws in how we treat women in prison and serves as a call to action to ensure that those incarcerated receive the healthcare they are entitled to under human rights law.

As Farah continues to fight for her life, her story remains a painful testament to the failures of the justice system in addressing women’s health—an issue that urgently needs to be addressed before more lives are lost behind bars.