Bahraini protesters have held peaceful anti-regime demonstrations across the country to express solidarity with prominent jailed human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.

Bahraini protesters have held peaceful anti-regime demonstrations across the country to express solidarity with prominent jailed human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, Press TV reported.

On Saturday, the protesters took to the streets in several villages across the Gulf country in defiance of a heavy-handed security crackdown.

The demonstrators demanded the release of Rajab, who is the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.

The Bahraini activist is serving a three-year term for taking part in protests against the Al Khalifa regime.
On Friday, Rajab launched a “full hunger strike” in protest against the misbehavior of officials in prison.

He stopped taking food, water and medication after prison officials refused to allow him to take part in the mourning ceremony held for his mother, who passed away on Thursday.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have also called for Rajab’s immediate release, saying that he has been jailed only for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Bahrain’s revolution started in mid-February 2011, when demonstrators, inspired by the Islamic awakening revolutions of Tunisia and Egypt, holding massive anti-regime protests.

Dozens of people have been martyred in the regime crackdown and the security forces have arrested hundreds, including doctors and nurses accused of treating the injured revolutionaries.

A report published by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in November 2011 found that the Al Khalifa regime had used 'excessive force' in the campaign of suppression and accused Manama of torturing political activists, politicians, and protesters.