Let’s lift the veil on the burning news that is shaking Bahrain: the massive hunger strike of political prisoners in Jaw prison. Since August 7, 2023, no less than 804 detainees have started a hunger strike to protest their inhumane detention conditions. This historic protest represents nearly a third of Bahrain’s prison population.
The prisoners’ demands are clear: they are demanding more time out of their cells, exceeding the current limit of one hour per day. They also demand access to adequate medical care as well as the right to practice their worship in groups in dedicated spaces. Requests that seem legitimate in a country that aspires to respect human rights.
Jaw prison, already at the center of numerous controversies in the past, is once again in the spotlight. In 2015, riots broke out in this establishment due to prison overcrowding and disastrous living conditions. Despite promises from the Bahraini authorities, problems persist.
The emblematic case of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a Bahraini opponent known for his support of the 2011 uprising, sadly illustrates the situation. Incarcerated for many years, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja joined the hunger strike on August 9, 2023. Despite serious health problems, he is deprived of adequate medical care and has been transferred to hospital on several occasions in emergencies. A glaring testimony to the authorities’ indifference towards the health and well-being of political detainees.
The families of prisoners are also victims of this situation. Visits are limited to 30 minutes and are often delayed or canceled arbitrarily. In addition, physical contact between prisoners and their loved ones is made impossible by the presence of glass insulation. Communication conditions, with headphones emitting garbled sounds, make understanding difficult and leave families in a state of frustration and despair.
Faced with this untenable situation, support rallies were organized in several Shiite villages across the country. Demonstrators defied monarch Hamed bin Issa al-Khalifa and chanted slogans calling for his fall, an extremely rare scene since 2011. The authorities responded to the protests with violence, reinforcing the repressive image of the regime in place.
This massive hunger strike in Bahrain is a powerful reminder of the need to respect human rights and ensure decent prison conditions. Bahraini authorities must realize the seriousness of the situation and act quickly to respond to the demands of political prisoners. The release of these people detained for their political opinions is also an essential objective to restore justice and advance democracy in the country.
It is time to end this suffering and give a voice to those who have been silenced, in the hope of a Bahrain where human rights are respected and freedom of expression is not restricted. not repressed.