Bahrain Tense as Anniversary Approaches

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights released an update about the health of the activists and prisoners who are now approaching their sixth day of the hunger strike. Human Rights Defender AbdulHadi Al Khawaja was hospitalized on the second day of the strike due to a drop in blood pressure and sugar level, but returned after being released from the hospital to resume the hunger strike. Dr. Abduljalil Al Singais, another prisoner who is participating the strike, said the management at the prison is careless when people request to be taken to the clinic. Despite a request in the morning to be given medical treatment, protestors were not taken in until 11 PM, only to find that the clinic was riddled with many others suffering from similar deteriorating health symptoms. There is concern that the clinic is not equipped to handle the number of prisoners that have needed treatment, or may need treatment in the future. The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) released a statement condemning the poor treatment of the prisoners involved in the hunger strike. The statement references reports that the prisoners were subjected to tear gas, beaten, and placed in solitary confinement, and calls on the authorities to take appropriate action to stop the violation of human rights.

Meanwhile, “security forces have expanded checkpoints and patrols as anti-government protesters call for major demonstrations to mark the upcoming one-year anniversary of their uprising.” In a suburb of Manama, protestors held a peaceful march to show support for the hunger strike and protest government, chanting phrases like “Yes to democracy, no to dictatorship,” “We won’t forget you, prisoners,” and “No backdown, no concessions.”