Detained Bahraini medical personnel who were arrested for treating injured anti-government protesters have gone on hunger strike

Detained Bahraini medical personnel who were arrested for treating injured anti-government protesters have gone on hunger strike, their families say.

The doctors and nurses have been in prison for almost six months while their trial continues in a military court.

“The trial of Bahraini medics in a military tribunal is against the country's constitution. Article 105 of the constitution says civilians should only be tried in civilian courts,” Al Jazeera quoted Khalil al-Mazrooq, a former chairman of the main opposition group al-Wefaq, as saying.

Relatives say some of the detainees are in critical condition and are not receiving satisfactory medical treatment.

“One doctor has a cerebral aneurism, another has severe injuries from torture. Another man is suffering badly from diabetes. Now that they are all on hunger strike, their condition will only get worse,” said a relative.

The Bahraini government has accused the detainees of taking hostages at Manama's Salmaniya hospital, bringing guns into the building, and using ambulances to run weapons to protesters.