Terminally-ill Bahraini inmate removed from hospital, denied medical care

The family of an imprisoned Bahraini activist says authorities have removed their terminally ill son from hospital and transferred him back to prison despite deterioration in his condition.

Hassan Abdullah Habib’s family said he was admitted to the military hospital for three weeks and then returned to jail regardless of the fact that his doctor had demanded continuation of his treatment, Arabic-language Manama Post online newspaper reported.

The family added that Hassan, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment on political grounds, needed blood transfusion due to his sickle cell disease, and removal of a swollen lymph gland in his neck.

They said the prisoner had an appointment on October 13 but was deliberately neglected and denied the necessary treatment.

The family then called upon Bahraini authorities to immediately release their son, and allow him to complete his treatment and have the required medical tests conducted.

Anti-regime protesters in Bahrain demand that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established.

Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. 

On March 14, 2011, several days after the protests erupted, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.

On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure censured by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.