The Suffragettes did this in the UK to either force their release/transfer to 'political' first-class prison status or martyrdom. The government passed the so-c

The Suffragettes did this in the UK to either force their release/transfer to 'political' first-class prison status or martyrdom. The government passed the so-called 'cat and mouse act' with temporary release followed by re-incarceration. Not clear it worked out well, though.