The Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa dynasty has largely kept a lid on dissent since Riyadh sent troops to help it crush an “Arab Spring” uprising in 2011 by the mostly Shia opposition, and the hunger strike is the biggest organised protest in years.

A human rights group in Bahraini has issued a report on the long-lasting effects of tortures among political prisoners during their interrogation and imprisonment by al-Khalifa regime.

Family members of the death row and life imprisoned inmates in the Persian Gulf Arab state of Bahrain have held protest rally along the route taken by Pope Francis motorcade calling on the pontiff to press the king for freedom of their loved ones and family members.