Bahrain prisoners protest female activists arrest

The hunger striking prisoners in al-Hodh al-Jaf prison continued their protest, which started on Sunday, for the second straight day, Bahrain’s main opposition bloc al-Wefaq said on Monday.
 
According to the Bahraini opposition group, the prisoners issued a statement on Sunday, demanding the immediate release of the detained activists.
 
The prisoners had asserted in the statement that they would continue their move if their demand is not met, al-Wefaq said. 
 
The regime arrested 13 female activists for expressing disagreement with the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country. Two of them have been released while 11 others are still in custody.
 
Most of the female activists were arrested last week after the Bahraini Interior Ministry accused them of "preparing an anti-regime referendum on the day of the legislative elections," AFP quoted an activist as saying on condition of anonymity.
 
The regime plans to hold the elections on November 22, despite ongoing protests against the ruling Al Khalifa family.
 
Several protests have been held in different areas across Bahrain with the protesters condemning the regime's detention of the female pro-democracy activists.
 
On Sunday, the protesters took to the streets in the northeastern island of Sitra, the nearby area of Eker, and the villages of Samaheej and Tubli to demand an immediate release of the female protesters.
 
Since mid-February 2011, thousands of protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling on the royal family to relinquish power.
 
In June, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights censured the Manama regime for human rights violations. A total of 46 members of the international body expressed deep concern over the Al Khalifa regime’s crackdown on peaceful protests.