Bin Ghaith continues his hunger strike for freedom since 2nd of April

Prominent UAE academic and economist Nasser Bin Ghaith has gone on an open hunger strike since 2nd of April to protest his unfair sentencing to ten years in jail for online posts.

On 17th of April, Bin Ghaith announced his strike in an open letter sent from his prison cell in Abu Dhabi to demand his unconditional release.

Despite his difficult health situation, Bin Ghaith is determined to continue his hunger strike until he is released and his family are allowed to leave the country.

Bin Ghaith's health was already at risk before he began his hunger strike. 

According to the GC4HR, Emirati authorities were not doing enough to provide him with needed medical treatment. It took weeks before Bin Ghaith had access to a doctor to examine pain in his teeth, and the prison's authorities have not been consistent in providing him with medicine for his blood pressure. 

But for Bin Ghaith: “I have no choice but to go on hunger strike to restore my stolen freedom”.