A PROMINENT activist imprisoned in Bahrain since the 2011 Arab Spring protests began a new hunger strike today, seeking to put pressure on the Gulf kingdom and Europe over his internationally criticised detention.

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja began what supporters described as an “open-ended” hunger strike at the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Centre in Bahrain.

A previous hunger strike by the 64-year-old activist, who also holds Danish citizenship, lasted for 110 days in 2012 – and a doctor now is warning the Danish government that Mr Khawaja is already 22 pounds underweight, with a heart condition that could worsen.

“Despite Mr Khawaja’s ability to endure severe malnutrition and dehydration in the past, my assessment is that he will be at high risk of death in a hunger strike of any duration,” Dr Damian McCormack wrote.

Human rights groups and United Nations experts have long said that Mr Khawaja is being held arbitrarily after he was given a life sentence by a military tribunal on internationally criticised terrorism charges.

Denmark has talked to Bahraini officials about Mr Khawaja’s case, but the latter insist that his imprisonment is just. His supporters also want to press the European Union to act in his favour.