(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The strike was started last week ago by 12 doctors arrested in the wake of a mid-March deadly crackdown on the anti-discriminate protests, said Nabeel Rajab, the head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.
He said the number of prisoners on strike has climbed to more than 200, adding that some of the medics have been hospitalised.
The 12 doctors were among 47 doctors and nurses from Salmaniya central hospital accused of incitement to overthrow the regime of the Al-Khalifa ruling family. The others were freed on bail, and their trial resumes Wednesday.
Human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and opposition Haq movement member Abduljalil al-Singace, both jailed for life, joined the strike a week ago, Khawaja's daughter Zainab told AFP on Saturday.
She said they stopped eating on July 26 in solidarity with other detainees.
The detainees are insisting that trials, if any are held, should be conducted in civil courts not military tribunals. The trials are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
Last month, two female anti-government prisoners went on hunger strike to protest against their imprisonment and the fact that they have been tortured.
According to Amnesty International, Roula al-Saffar, the head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, and Jalila al-Salman, the vice president of the Bahrain Teachers Association, were arrested several months ago for taking part in anti-regime demonstrations.
The human rights group added that the two have been tortured.
They were released on bail after a 10-day hunger strike. The Bahraini authorities say both women will be tried in the near future.
Despite the heavy-handed clampdown by security forces in March, which was followed by mass arrests and dismissals from jobs for thousands of Shiites, the majority community has taken to the streets again.
Candle-lit processions and vigils are being held on a daily basis, according to images posted on the Facebook page of Al-Wefaq, the main Shiite opposition formation.
Al-Wefaq led the political front of youth protests which broke out in February, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. The opposition has demanded major political reforms.
Bahraini security forces backed by Saudi-led Persian Gulf troops in mid-March drove protesters out of central Manama's Pearl Square, where they had camped out for a month. Authorities shortly after razed the roundabout.
Authorities say 24 people were killed in the unrest, including four policemen. The opposition puts the toll at 42.
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