Death of prisoner from covid-19 sparks protests as Bahrain battles outbreak

Of the roughly 2,500 people held in Jau prison, about 1,440, or nearly 60 percent, are being held for political charges, said Al Wadaei. Some have been there since the Arab Spring uprising in 2011, when Bahrain’s government, backed by neighboring Saudi Arabia, violently cracked down on pro-democracy and anti-sectarianism protests. Others were imprisoned in subsequent waves of political crackdowns, said Al Wadaei.