Bahrian prisoners of conscience hunger strike has grown into the hundreds – torture, detentions and sham military trials must stop now!!!
recent tweet from @Free AlKhawaja – lawyers from the international federation for human rights banned from entering Bahrain tonight to monitor the doctors and activists trial
200 Bahrain detainees on hunger strike
September 05, 2011 08:37 PM – Agence France Presse – The Daily Star
DUBAI: More than 200 Shiite Bahrainis jailed for their role in a month of pro-democracy protests in the Sunni-ruled kingdom have joined a hunger strike, a rights and opposition activist said on Monday.
The strike was started last week ago by 12 doctors arrested in the wake of a mid-March deadly crackdown on the Shiite-led protests, said Nabeel Rajab, the head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.
He said the number of prisoners on strike has climbed to more than 200, adding that some of the medics have been hospitalised.
The report could not be verified through independent sources.
The 12 doctors were among 47 doctors and nurses from Salmaniya central hospital accused of incitement to overthrow the regime of the Al-Khalifa ruling family. The others were freed on bail, and their trial resumes Wednesday.
Human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and opposition Haq movement member Abduljalil al-Singace, both jailed for life, joined the strike a week ago, Khawaja’s daughter Zainab told AFP on Saturday.
She said they stopped eating on July 26 in solidarity with other detainees.
Despite the heavy-handed clampdown by security forces in March, which was followed by mass arrests and dismissals from jobs for thousands of Shiites, the majority community has taken to the streets again.
Candle-lit processions and vigils are being held on a daily basis, according to images posted on the Facebook page of Al-Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition formation.
Al-Wefaq led the political front of youth protests which broke out in February, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. The opposition has demanded major political reforms.
Bahraini security forces backed by Saudi-led Gulf troops in mid-March drove protesters out of central Manama’s Pearl Square, where they had camped out for a month. Authorities shortly after razed the roundabout.
Authorities say 24 people were killed in the unrest, including four policemen. The opposition puts the toll at 30. …source
