AhlulBayt News Agency

source : Almanar
Tuesday

10 April 2012

10:37:00 AM
307752

Bahraini Regime Claims Al-Khawaja “in Good Health”

Bahraini regime denied late on Monday that the prominent human rights activists Abdulhadi al-Khawaja has died, claiming the hunger striker was in “god health”.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Al-Khawaja has been in critical condition for days. Earlier he was transferred to a hospital in the prison two months after he went on a hunger strike.

"Abdel Hadi al-Khawaja's state of health is good," the interior ministry said in a statement, adding that the activist had been transferred to a military hospital "for the best medical treatment."

The ministry also said his case was being handled without "political or media pressure and with respect for human rights."

This denial is considered by Bahraini people as by international community and al-Khawaja’s family insufficient since it lacks any evidence that proves the activist is in good health, especially that the regime has been for days banning any contact or visit to al-khawaja, something which raises fears the hunger striker may have passed away.

Earlier on Monday, al-Khawaja lawyer voiced fears that the activist may have died.
"Authorities have been refusing since yesterday (Sunday) all requests, made by myself and by his family, to visit or contact al-Khawaja”, Mohammed al-Jeshi said.

"We fear that he might have passed away as there is no excuse for them to prevent us from visiting or contacting him”, the lawyer said, adding there was no information available on the hunger striker’s health.

AL-WEFAQ STANCE

Also on Monday, prominent opposition group al-wefaq reiterated its calls for his release in a statement accusing Al Khalifa regime of "completely ignoring his deteriorating health which has reached a dangerous stage."

Demonstrations in solidarity with Khawaja have multiplied across the Persian Gulf kingdom where youth groups organize almost daily evening protests across the country.

On Saturday, Danish Foreign minister called on the Bahrain to send al-Khawaja, who holds the Danish nationality.

However the regime on Sunday refused to send the activist to Denmark.

"The handover of accused and convicted persons to foreign countries takes place under specific conditions ... This does not apply in Abdulhadi al-Khawaja's case," a Supreme Judiciary Council official said, quoted by state news agency BNA.

In June, Al-Khawaja was handed down a life sentence for having led an anti-regime protest earlier last year.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have asked the regime to release him on humanitarian grounds.

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