Rare street protests have broken out in Bahrain as a mass hunger strike enters its fifth week, activists say, in a faint echo of the uprising that swept the Gulf kingdom starting in 2011, during the Arab Spring.
Inmates inside the country’s largest prison have been refusing meals since Aug. 7, protesting against what they and their relatives say are poor conditions, including systematic mistreatment, medical neglect and limited visitation rights.
The government has denied those allegations, arguing that conditions are in line with international standards.
Officials have announced some concessions, including an increase in the time that prisoners can spend outside, yet the strike has lasted for nearly a month.
While the government says that only 116 prisoners are involved, activists say that they have documented more than 800 participants — a significant portion of the prison population in a small island state of 1.6 million people.
Locations:
Bahrain