Dubai: There are conflicting reports about the physical state of an activist in Bahrain who has been detained for one year.
Supporters said that Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja has been on hunger strike since February 9 and could suffer organ failure or die in jail after shedding 25 per cent of his body weight.
However, the interior ministry inspector-general in charge of overseeing the detainees' care said that Al Khawaja had been given full medical care in accordance with regulations.
"When it was discovered that his blood pressure was low on March 30, he was shifted to BDF Hospital for further assessment. His family was able to visit him while he was at the hospital, as well as after he had been returned to the detention centre the next day," the inspector general said
According to the official, records showed that Al Khawaja has lost around 10 kilos and was showing signs of low haemoglobin, but not at a critical level.
The inspector-general said that the Reformation and Rehabilitation Director on Tuesday recommended that Al Khawaja be transferred to the clinic of the Public Security Fort for regular medical observation and care.
Al Khawaja was in 2011 sentenced to life in prison on charges of attempting to topple the political regime.
A final legal verdict is his case, alongside 20 other detainees, is expected by the Court of Cassation on April 23.
The 21 defendants, 14 in custody and seven out of Bahrain, were initially charged with establishing and managing terror groups to change the state royal regime by force and to change the constitution, communicating intelligence with an overseas terrorist organisation to commit hostile acts against Bahrain as well as a number of other charges.
The National Safety Court of First Instance in June sentenced them to terms between two years in jail and life in prison.
The National Safety Court of Appeal in September confirmed the convictions and upheld the sentences.
The Court of Cassation this week said that the verdict would be issued later this month.
