Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Hasiba Hadj Sahraoui said, “The Bahrain authorities’ delaying tactics are toying with the life of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is on death’s doorstep as he enters his 75th day on hunger strike… He and the 13 other defendants in this case are prisoners of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression amid anti-government protests last year.”
In a hearing earlier on Monday lasting just a few minutes, the Court of Cassation in Manama postponed the appeal until April 30 without giving any reason for the decision. This is the second postponement since the court started considering the case on April 2.
Nearly 11 weeks into his hunger strike, Khawaja’s health is deteriorating.
Khawaja, who holds dual Danish and Bahraini citizenship, was given a life sentence in June 2011 after being convicted on charges of inciting protests against the Manama regime.
The hunger-striker’s daughter, Zainab al-Khawaja, was arrested on Saturday night during a demonstration over her father’s imprisonment.
On Monday, Saudi-backed regime forces attacked mourners holding a funeral for anti-regime protester Salah Abbas Habib, who was found dead on a rooftop in the village of Shakhoura, southwest of Manama, on Saturday shortly after regime forces attacked an anti-government demonstration in the area the day before the Formula One Grand Prix.