Bahraini opposition activist hospitalised as health rapidly deteriorates in prison

The health of an imprisoned Bahraini opposition figure has severely deteriorated, resulting in him being moved to a military medical centre after he was reportedly denied medical care by prison authorities.

Sheikh Mirza al-Mahrous, a Shia Muslim cleric, lost consciousness earlier this week in his cell inside the notorious Jau Prison, located south of the capital Manama, Bahraini broadcaster Lua Lua TV reported.

Jailed #Bahrain-i religious leader Sheikh Mirza Al-Mahroos has reportedly undergone a cardiac catheterization after losing consciousness in prison. He had to be rushed to a military hospital where a catheter was inserted into one of his arteries & guided up to the heart. pic.twitter.com/lxHeaiFB4K

— LuaLuaTV (@LuaLuaEnglish) January 31, 2023

Al-Mahrous, who suffered from heart failure, was subsequently hospitalised, before undergoing cardiac catherterisation, according to the broadcaster, who added that a catherer was inserted into one of his arteries and then guided up to his heart.

Activist Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei said Al-Mahrous had had chest pain for about a week.

The severe detorioration in the cleric’s health came after his family repeatedly voiced concern over his physical well-being.

They have accused prison authorities of disregarding his medical conditions and deliberately withholding necessary medicine.

Al-Mahrous’ ordeal happened as the Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain NGO published a report earlier this week on the long-term effects of torture of Bahraini prisoners.

The report, which accuses Bahraini prison authorities of abusing prisoners during detention, underscores that medical neglect is a form of torture and essentially means a slow death sentence for prisoners.

It is unclear how long Al-Mahrous has been subjected to this treatment, but previous reports by the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (GIDHR) and the European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR) have alleged that the cleric has been denied medical treatment as far back as 2016, as well as being subjected to other forms of mistreatment.

Bahrain has long been criticised for its treatment of detainees. In July last year, Amnesty International accused Manama of withholding medication from 60-year-old prisoner Abduljalil al-Singace, whose health in prison has also been deteriorating in recent years.

The Gulf country has been condemned for its crackdown on its Shia Muslim majority in the aftermath of the Arab Spring protests – with many people being detained on bogus charges.

Al-Mahrous, a prominent opposition leader, was arrested in the spring of 2011 for his activism in the widespread protests that erupted in the country in February of that year, during the Arab Spring.