Bahrain streets experienced a rare demonstration that erupted following the death of a political prisoner, Husain Barakat, on late Wednesday. Hundreds of protesters held demonstrations in the streets of the village of Diah.
It was seen that protesters chanted slogans holding Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa responsible for Barakat’s death over poor care. Demonstrators also carried banners written, “The liberated and honorable martyr has prevailed, the martyr prisoner Husain Barakat.”
The Bahrain Interior Ministry issued a statement on early Wednesday announcing that Husain Barakat, 48 years old, died at a hospital. Requiring respiration in the last days, Barakat died although he had been fully vaccinated against the COVID-19, the statement noted. Any information regarding which vaccine that Barakat had received was not provided.
Families of prisoners who are being held in Bahrain’s Jau prison have been holding demonstrations against poor conditions since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March. They are demanding the release of political prisoners and improve conditions in the jail.
In one of these demonstrations, which was held in April, the Bahraini police force scattered the protesters by using extensive force, attracting heavy criticisms from human rights organizations and the United Nations.
In recent times, it is seen that Bahrain has been targeted by criticisms over poor conditions in prisons, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of medical care.
Nowadays, Bahrain has been going through a new wave of the virus. Due to increases in cases, Bahraini authorities have implemented new measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19. Vaccination has been maintaining with different vaccines, including the Chinese Sinopharm, and Pfizer-BioNTech.
