A HUNGER strike launched by inmates at Bahrain’s central prison five days ago is still ongoing, according to human rights activists.
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has received information from inside Jaw Prison that the inmates are still vigilant about the strike, despite efforts by police to stop them.
They are understood to be demanding personal items such as razors, extended exercise time and cell doors to be left open until midnight.
However, the Interior Ministry earlier branded the items as illegal, saying they were impossible to attain.
A HUNGER strike launched by inmates at Bahrain’s central prison five days ago is still ongoing, according to human rights activists.
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has received information from inside Jaw Prison that the inmates are still vigilant about the strike, despite efforts by police to stop them.
They are understood to be demanding personal items such as razors, extended exercise time and cell doors to be left open until midnight.
However, the Interior Ministry earlier branded the items as illegal, saying they were impossible to attain.
“We have received credible inside information that the inmates are still on strike,” said society president Mohammed Al Maskati.
“It has been five days and nothing has been done about their situation.”
Mr Al Maskati told the GDN last night that the society was monitoring international movement about the case and was pushing international groups to intervene.
“We are following up the situation with international human rights organisations,” he said.
“We are also expecting a response from the United Nations soon about its proposed next step.”
The society contacted the UN to express its concern over the inmates’ welfare.
It wrote to the UN High Commission for Human Rights, asking it to intervene on prisoners’ behalf and claimed the strike followed allegations of mistreatment.
Mr Al Maskati also revealed that prison authorities might start negotiations with the inmates soon.
“We also found out that authorities might begin negotiations with the inmates soon because nothing has worked with them. They earlier used force to stop the strike but the prisoners are persistent. We have also received word that some inmates are still banned from receiving visitation rights.”
Ministry officials were not available for comment.
The GDN had reported that Bahraini human rights groups demanded access to the prison. They claimed prison visits had been cancelled as a result of the protest and accused guards of using heavy-handed tactics to bring inmates under control on Monday.
However, the ministry earlier said police had no choice but to use force to prevent a riot. It also warned legal action would be taken against unruly inmates, saying the prison provided a daily programme from 3.15am to 8.45pm, which included prayer times, meals, television, phone calls and use of a gym.
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