The claims about the volunteer hunger striker Abdulhadi Al Khawaja that he was being force-fed in the hospital have been categorically denied by the authorities, according to a statement issued by the Information Affairs Authority (IAA).
A spokesperson for Bahrain Defence Forces Hospital (BDF) has denied rumours on Sunday that Abdulahadi Al-Khawaja, who reportedly has been undergoing a hunger strike, was force-fed. The accusation surfaced after Al-Khawaja’s family was allowed to visit him in hospital.
“In response to claims made by Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s family members, we want to be clear that the patient has not been force-fed or treated against his will. He has been taking limited nutrition supplements voluntarily, but when his blood sugar dropped significantly on Sunday, his doctors asked for and received his consent to insert a nose-gastric tube for nutrition. At no time was he drugged or restrained,” a spokesperson for BDF Hospital, in a statement said.