Amnesty urges treatment of jailed Bahraini activist

A human rights group has called for “specialized medical treatment” for one of Bahrain's leading jailed activists as the Al Khalifa regime continues its crackdown on protesters. Amnesty International said in a statement that Abdelwahab Hussain has been denied much-needed medical treatment for his chronic diseases. The 59-year-oil prisoner “needs urgent access to specialized medical treatment. His health condition has deteriorated and his family’s last scheduled visit to the prison was cancelled without explanation,” the London-based rights group said. In June 2011, a military court sentenced Hussain and 12 other opposition figures to life imprisonment on the charge of plotting to topple Al Khalifa regime and change the constitution. Amnesty also urged Bahraini authorities to “release all 13 opposition activists immediately and unconditionally, since they are prisoners of conscience, convicted solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.” Meanwhile, another rights group, Front Line Defenders, has requested that King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa pardon the head of Bahrain’s Center for Human rights, Nebeel Rajab. Known for being a vocal critic of the regime, Rajab began serving a three-year sentence May last year. He was convicted of inciting anti-government demonstrations and sharing online posts against the country’s long-time prime minister. The Manama regime is under fire for its heavy-handed crackdown on protests. Scores have been killed, many of them under torture while in custody, and thousands more detained since a popular uprising began in Bahrain in early 2011.