Bahrain has transferred a jailed activist who has been on a hunger strike for 56 days to a military hospital after his health deteriorated, the government said on Wednesday, dpa reported.
Bahraini Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is also a Danish citizen, is serving a life sentence for his role in last year's uprising by the island's Shiite majority to demand more rights from the country's ruling Sunni royal family.
Opposition protesters clashed with security forces in the capital Manama on Wednesday during a protest to demand al-Khawaja's release.
The government said in a statement that al-Khawaja was transferred to the Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services hospital after physicians advised the day earlier he receive "constant medical observation and care."
The recommendations came after tests showed that 52-year-old al-Khawaja, who has been refusing to eat since February 8, had lost "approximately 10 kilogrammes and was showing signs of low hemoglobin although not at a critical level."
A court will decide on an appeal against al-Khawaja's sentence on April 23, according to his lawyers.
Rights group Amnesty International last month urged Bahrain to release him, saying his trial in a military court was "grossly unfair".
The Bahraini Centre for Human Rights, founded by al-Khawaja, said Tuesday he was "entering a critical phase where his life is at stake."
Bahrain transfers hunger-striking activist to hospital
Bahrain has transferred a jailed activist who has been on a hunger strike for 56 days to a military hospital after his health deteriorated, the government said on Wednesday.
