Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): On Tuesday morning, September 12, 2023, it was confirmed that some political prisoners suspended their hunger strike, after the prison administration showed flexibility towards their demands, according to human rights sources.

Human rights activist Ibtisam Al-Saegh posted through her "X" account the details of the agreement: "Prisoners on hunger strike suspended their strike after the outcomes of the negotiating meeting that brought together building officials and prison officials and promises by those who attended with building officials, who are prisoners nominated by the rest of the prisoners to represent them, they are: political prisoner Sayed Radhi from Building 7, political prisoner Ahmed Abbas, political prisoner Ali Haroun from Building 8, political prisoner Sayed Sajjad Ibrahim Al-Asfour from Building 9, political prisoner Jassim Al-Maljawi, and political prisoner from Building 10, in the presence of the prison director, deputy director, and a representative from the Interior Ministry."

"Officials have acknowledged that prisoners' demands are rights and promised to amend prison regulations without procrastination or delay, allowing them access to a private visit that includes fourth-degree relatives with increased duration of calls, as well as promises to negotiate with telecommunications companies to reduce the cost of calls while increasing the number of contacts the prisoner can call from five to seven. They also include canceling the implementation of security isolation, which used to happen randomly, affecting political prisoners, so the prison administration will set clear regulations for its implementation. Of course, the prisoners received these promises positively and as an initiative on their part, on the condition that all promises be implemented by September 30, and if not, they will resume the hunger strike."

A statement will be issued by the prisoners in this regard, and we confirm that these rights demanded by the prisoners are rights that any prisoner is supposed to receive. without putting himself in danger." 

Sayed Abbas Al-Alawi, father of prisoner Sajjad Al-Alawi, wrote via "X" platform: "It is a joyful news... Prisoners are suspending the strike pending the start of the return of prisoners in isolation as promised by the Jaw prison administration."

Pending official confirmation from prisoners, the 36-day strike, which began on 7 August and has put a tremendous light on the darkness of more than 3,300 prisoners of conscience in Bahrain who are suffering from extremely difficult conditions.

Human rights sources say that the government has two important entitlements that made it change its position a little, the first is the visit of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the United States and the second, is that a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Bahrain and Jaw Prison for a private visit.

The American media has highlighted the prisoners' strike and the failure of the government and its president to solve the humanitarian crisis in prisons, and it is expected that an economic and military agreement will be signed between the United States of America and Bahrain, according to the American media.

Arabic Version