Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini activist imprisoned since the 2011 Arab Spring protests, has initiated an open-ended hunger strike to draw attention to his internationally condemned detention. Al-Khawaja, who also holds Danish citizenship, began the strike on Wednesday while held at the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center in Bahrain. This marks his second hunger strike; his first, in 2012, lasted 110 days. Medical professionals, including Dr. Damian McCormack, have warned that al-Khawaja’s health is precarious, citing his 10-kilogram (22-pound) underweight status and a pre-existing heart condition. McCormack emphasized that any duration of hunger strike poses a high risk of death for the 64-year-old activist. Bahraini authorities have not directly addressed the hunger strike but maintain that prisoners receive fair trials, full rights, and prompt medical care. Al-Khawaja’s detention has been widely criticized by human rights groups and UN experts, who describe it as arbitrary following a life sentence imposed by a military tribunal on terrorism charges. His hunger strike aims to pressure Denmark and the European Union to negotiate his release. The timing coincides with Bahrain’s annual Manama Dialogue, a security summit attracting global leaders. Al-Khawaja, a founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, has long advocated for democratic reforms in the Shiite-majority nation governed by a Sunni ruling family. His activism has made him a symbol of the ongoing struggle for human rights in Bahrain, where unrest persists despite the violent suppression of the 2011 protests.
Imprisoned Bahrain activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja starts hunger strike over his detention
