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Biden Administration should Pressure Crown Prince during his Visit to Washington to Help Hunger Striker Prisoners

2023-09-11 - 11:54 p

Bahrain Mirror: The Washington Post newspapers demanded the Biden administration not to forget that more than 800 political prisoners remain on a month-long hunger strike over their mistreatment in the notorious Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center, as Bahrain's crown prince prepares to visit Washington this week.

The newspaper confirmed in a report that "Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa's visit to Washington is designed to demonstrate U.S. staying power in the Persian Gulf and underscore the value of the strategic partnership. Bahrain is officially a major non-NATO ally and home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. This gives Washington leverage."

"The crown prince, who was once seen as a moderate influence inside the royal family, replaced his great uncle as prime minister in November 2020. The hunger strike offers him an opportunity to show statesmanship," it added.

The Washington Post asked the Biden administration to use this pressure to aid political prisoner Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and other prisoners, stressing that "the authorities should not arrest [Maryam] Al-Khawaja when she comes to see her father. They should send him to Denmark in her care."

It is to mention that Maryam Al-Khawaja, daughter of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja who holds the Danish citizenship, plans to fly home this week to draw attention to his plight, even though she's risking arrest and potential life imprisonment by doing so. She was arrested on her last visit in 2014 but released a month later under international pressure.

Arabic Version