200 Bahraini prisoners on hunger strike
According to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), over 200 Bahrainis imprisoned for participating in anti-government protests have gone on hunger strike.
BCHR President Nabeel Rajab says the number of prisoners now on hunger strike has passed 200.
Last week, doctors and nurses arrested for treating injured anti-government demonstrators went on hunger strike to protest against being tried by military tribunals.
Some of the doctors and nurses are reportedly in critical condition and have been hospitalized.
Human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and opposition Haq movement member Abduljalil al-Singace, who have both been sentenced to life imprisonment, have also joined the hunger strike.
The detainees are insisting that trials, if any are held, should be conducted in civil courts not military tribunals. The trials are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Last month, two female anti-government prisoners went on hunger strike to protest against their imprisonment and the fact that they have been tortured.
According to Amnesty International, Roula al-Saffar, the head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, and Jalila al-Salman, the vice president of the Bahrain Teachers Association, were arrested several months ago for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations.
The human rights group added that the two have been tortured.
They were released on bail after a 10-day hunger strike. The Bahraini authorities say both women will be tried in the near future.
Source: irib.ir
