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| Jailed Bahraini activists on hunger strike |
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 Bahraini activists jailed for life in June for “plotting to overthrow” the ruling family have gone on hunger strike, the daughter of one of them told AFP on Saturday.Human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and opposition Haq movement member Abduljalil al-Singace stopped eating on Tuesday in solidarity with detainees held at Bahrain's Dry Dock prison, Zainab al-Khawaja said, AFP reported. She said that the detainees, who were arrested as part of a March crackdown on the pro-democracy protests, had called their hunger strike in protest at the government's failure to honor promises to release them. “I am concerned about my father's health,” Khawaja said. “He was beaten when detained and his jaw was broken. They also beat him repeatedly on his jaw in court. The doctor had told him to eat well for his health to improve. “He has already lost too much weight in prison and yesterday he called me and said his blood sugar level has dropped,” she added. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who also holds Danish citizenship, was jailed for life with Singace and six other opposition activists in June. On Thursday, Tension ran high in Bahrain as tens of thousands attend a funeral ceremony held for a 14-year-old teenager, who was brutally killed by security forces after Eid al-Fitr prayers, Press TV reported. Bahraini security forces resorted to firing tear gas and live rounds in vain to disperse the angry people who took to the streets in towns and villages around the capital, Manama, to condemn the killing of the boy. Ali Jawad was killed on Wednesday when he was shot at close range, directly in the face, by a tear gas canister fired by Saudi-backed security forces in the southern city of Sitra. Large crowds of people, among them human rights activists, participated in the funeral for the young victim, shouting slogans against the ruling Al Khalifa family. “Death to Al Khalifa,” chanted the outraged protesters. Separately, people have held demonstrations in several cities and villages across Bahrain to condemn the murder of the teenage boy by the regime forces. The Manama regime has, however, claimed that all the evidence in the teenager's death suggested foul play, saying it was still investigating the incident. The killing of Jawad comes a few days after a televised speech by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, announced a decision to pardon the demonstrators arrested during the country's popular uprising that broke out in February. During his Sunday speech, King Hamad also promised to reinstate employees and students who have been dismissed for participating in anti-regime protests. The remarks were immediately met with street protests by Bahraini people and activists, who deem the remarks as an insult to hundreds of political activists held in regime prisons and the majority of Bahraini public who have turned against the US- and Saudi-backed Al Khalifa regime. “The picture of the situation on the ground is totally different from the speech he delivered,” said President of Bahrain Center for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab, referring to the continued killing of protesters, attacking and looting of houses and demolishing mosques and holy places by the Saudi-backed regime.
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| Last Updated on 03 September 2011 17:28 |