Manama: Bahraini authorities say a 23-year-old detainee has died a week after being taken to the hospital.

Opposition activists and human rights groups have raised concerns about the alleged mistreatment of detainees in custody amid a three-year uprising by the opposition seeking greater political rights. Bahrain says it is committed to complying with human rights norms.

The Ministry of Information said in a statement on Wednesday that detainee Jaffar Mohammad Jaffar died at around 3.15am. He had been receiving treatment at Salmaniya Medical Complex after being admitted on February 19.

The ministry says Jaffar had sickle cell anaemia. No cause of death was given, and it was unclear how his disease contributed to his death.