"Bahrain Prison Inmates Launch Hunger Strike Amidst Growing Unrest"

Inmates at Bahrain's Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center have initiated a hunger strike to protest against prison conditions, including restrictions on worship, daily lockdowns, arbitrary isolation, interference with family visits, and inadequate healthcare. The strike, led by dissidents opposing the ruling Al Khalifa family, highlights ongoing unrest in the country a decade after the Arab Spring. While the exact number of participants remains unconfirmed, prisoners' families estimate it to be in the hundreds. Bahrain's government acknowledged that some inmates had returned their meals but denied any wrongdoing, stating that prisoners were allowed to commemorate Ashoura and receive proper healthcare. The prison, located in the southern part of the country, has previously faced concerns over medical care, including a reported tuberculosis outbreak in June 2022. Bahrain has been cracking down on dissent since the 2011 protests, imprisoning activists, revoking citizenship, and closing independent media outlets.