A quick update on the situation in Bahrain. Zainab Al-Khawaja has called off her hunger strike after ten days. Her health was deteriorating and she has stated that, with the support and encouragement of family, friends and other activists, she decided that she would of more use in speaking on behalf of those in detention if she was healthy. "Being silent in a tomb and not able to speak is not in the interests of my family," she stated.
This decision was also related to the first information the family has recieved about the three men in detention: Abdulhadi reportedly faced a military tribunal during a court hearing this morning, and has been charged with crimes against the state. Abdulhadi was allowed to call the family yesterday and Zainab Al-Khawaja's husband was also allowed to make a phone call. They were allowed to take clothes, toothbrushes and medicenes to deliver to the detainees.
Front Line's Deputy Director, Andrew Anderson, is in Bahrain at the moment but was not allowed to attend the military hearing in Manama this morning, and officials told him they could not confirm that the hearing was taking place.
Andrew filmed an appeal from Zainab Al-Khawaja in Manama a few days ago, which you can watch here.
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