VISITS to Bahrain's central prison could start being rescheduled from next week, according to families who showed up there yesterday demanding access to their relatives.

It follows the cancellation of visits to inmates after clashes with security at Jaw Prison.

Six families showed up at the prison yesterday seeking access to their loved ones, but left three hours later after being denied permission.

However, rights activists say they are still waiting for a response from authorities after demanding access to the prison more than a week ago.

RELATIVES of inmates at Bahrain's central prison were turned away yesterday after showing up to demand access.

Visits to Jaw Prison have been suspended following the launch of a hunger strike just over a week ago.

Families are demanding information about the inmates' health, but authorities have remained tight-lipped on the situation - saying only that police had to use force to bring unruly prisoners under control last week.

FAMILIES of inmates at Bahrain's central prison protested in Naim village yesterday demanding access to their relatives who launched a hunger strike six days ago.

They claim Jaw Prison cancelled their visits and won't allow them to speak to their relatives.

Inmates are understood to be demanding personal items such as razors, extended exercise time and cell doors to be left open until midnight.

However, the Interior Ministry earlier branded the demands "illegal".

A HUNGER strike launched by inmates at Bahrain's central prison five days ago is still ongoing, according to human rights activists.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights has received information from inside Jaw Prison that the inmates are still vigilant about the strike, despite efforts by police to stop them.

They are understood to be demanding personal items such as razors, extended exercise time and cell doors to be left open until midnight.

However, the Interior Ministry earlier branded the items as illegal, saying they were impossible to attain.

RIGHTS groups yesterday demanded access to inmates who launched a hunger strike at Bahrain's central prison on Sunday.

The inmates at Jaw Prison are understood to be demanding personal items such as razors, extended exercise periods and cell doors to be left open until midnight.

One rights group said prison visits had been cancelled as a result of the protest and accused guards of using heavy-handed tactics to bring inmates under control on Monday.

By ANIQA HAIDER , Posted on » Wednesday, August 04, 2010

ACTIVISTS have come to the aid of a battered Indian housemaid, who claims she was beaten by her employer's wife and forced to sleep outside on the terrace.

Salma Begum fled her boss's home covered in bruises yesterday, less than two months after she arrived in Bahrain.

The 32-year-old widow claims she has not been paid since she arrived on June 17.

HUNDREDS of people yesterday took part in a rally to highlight the problems of alleged "political naturalisation" in Bahrain.

The demonstration, in Sanabis, was organised by the Al Wafa Islamic Movement, Haq Movement for Liberties and Democracy, and Bahrain Islamic Freedom Activists.

They marched from Bahrain Mall to Dana Mall in a bid to raise awareness for a national movement against "naturalisation that intends to change the country's political landscape".