Bahrain: Rajab on Hunger Strike, Crackdown Continues, Medic Released

Local Editor

Bahraini protesters have held anti-regime demonstrations across the country to express solidarity with prominent jailed human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.


On the weekend, the protesters took to the streets in several villages across the Gulf country in defiance of a heavy-handed security crackdown.
The demonstrators demanded the release of Rajab, who is the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
Rallies were met with tear gas and hot water, which is a newly used weapon by the Bahraini forces against peaceful protesters.

The Bahraini activist is serving a three-year term for taking part in protests against al-Khalifa regime.
On Friday, Rajab launched a "full hunger strike" in protest against the misbehavior of officials in prison.
He stopped taking food, water and medication after prison officials refused to allow him to take part in the morning ceremony held for his mother, who passed away on Thursday.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have also called for Rajab's immediate release, saying that he has been jailed only for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
In a comment posted on Twitter, Bahraini rights lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi said "Rajab's hunger strike is an expected reaction since he's being denied his lawful and humane right to attend his mum's funeral."

Bahrain authorities say Rajab was barred from attending the condolence gathering because he "committed violations at the funeral."
"Rajab was released briefly to attend his mother's funeral on humanitarian grounds," the authorities said in a statement, but he "violated the terms of his release and delivered a speech inciting mourners to stage illegal protests."
The BCHR said that Rajab called on mourners to "continue their struggle for rights and democracy," and argued his speech was a "peaceful expression of opinion."

The next hearing in Rajab's appeal is set for October 16.
The courts have merged Rajab's three separate cases of "incitement and illegal assembly" into one single appeal.

Meanwhile, a Bahraini medic was freed on Sunday for time served in jail, just five days after he was sentenced with five colleagues in connection with last year's anti-regime protests in the Gulf state, his lawyers said.
They said Mahmud Asghar, who was sentenced to six months, was released for time served before his conviction.
The six medics were jailed on Tuesday, a day after their convictions were upheld by the kingdom's highest court.

The medics were among 20 doctors and nurses who worked at the Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama during the popular uprising against the oppressive rule in the kingdom.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org