Bahrain denies prison hunger strike reports

Manama: Bahrain has denied media reports that detainees at a local prison have launched a hunger strike, with the General Inspector also dismissing reports that detainees had been mistreated.

“Reports about an alleged hunger strike among detainees are untrue,” Major-General Ebrahim Habib Gaith said. “Additional allegations that the detainees are being tortured are also false. A number of detainees had requested that their trial dates be moved up. The Reformation and Rehabilitation Directorate contacted the Public Prosecution and submitted their request. The directorate conducts its duties in accordance with the law and international human rights standards and it does not make decisions or act based on media reports or political pressure.”

The General Inspector added that the Commission of the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees, chaired by the independent ombudsman, is the authority responsible for monitoring prison, detention and juvenile centres in order to evaluate the condition of the institution and the detainees.

“The commission is carrying out its duties in a free and transparent manner,” he said.