Another international expert to join the BICI team
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) has invited Dr Sondra Crosby a very distinguished international expert on hunger strikes to join its team in Bahrain in order to evaluate the prisoners currently on hunger strike.
Prisoners’ health will be examined and the status of their medical condition evaluated over the coming days. The expert will visit the 84 prisoners on hunger strike in Dry Docks prison as well as the 17 detainees hospitalised by the Ministry of Interior for their refusal to eat and the deterioration in their general condition. Medical advice will be provided and the expert will discuss the challenges of hunger strike with those who started it 9 days ago.
Beyond the fact-finding mission of the BICI, this move has been instigated on humanitarian grounds due to the deep concern of the BICI with the plight of the prisoners and detainees who are on hunger strike.
The BICI is mandated to “investigate and report on the events occurring in Bahrain in February/March 2011, and any subsequent consequences arising out of the aforementioned events, and to make such recommendations as it may deem appropriate”. Its report is scheduled to be delivered on 30th October to HM King Hamad and will be made public in its entirety.