Bahrain: Violations of Medical Neutrality in Bahrain

 

Bahrain: Violations of Medical Neutrality in Bahrain
 
 
During the Crisis of 2011, a violent crackdown from government forces attacked one and only main governmental hospital on the island on the 16th of March. Group of Bahrain Medics (Doctors, nurses, pharmacist, paramedics, nursing assistance ,cleaners,cook,etc.) made their way to Salmaniya Medical Complex – Bahrain’s only public hospital – as volunteers to save lives and treat the injured protesters. What we witnessed was horrifying: evidence of the use of live ammunition, bodies battered by tear gas canisters fired at close range, and protesters blinded by the use of bird shot. In the months that closely followed nearly fifty people were killed as a direct result of the crackdown on protesters, a number which has risen to over 180 in the years since 2011.
 
The government responded to our humanitarian action and based on our ethical duties to save lives; withoutraged. At the time Medics went live on TV exposing the government of Bahrain atrocities, and requesting to stop these atrocities against the people of Bahrain. Medics, were clearly identified and wereattacked and detained by security forces, whileSalmaniya Medical Complex came under theoccupation of government forces. To justify their action, state-controlled media reported that healthcare professionals were refusing to treat injured security forces; a claim that remains baseless. In other words, the Minister of Interior used all its power and facilitated a campaign of hatred and sectarianism against the medics through the controlled media in Bahrain.
August of 2011, fifty-two of those medics were sentenced by a special military court to prison terms ranging from one month to fifteen years. I myself was sentenced to 15 years for 12 charges, including attempting to overthrow the regime, spreading false information, and participating in an illegal public gathering.  After considerable condemnation from the international community, these convictions were reviewed by a civilian court. The convictions of ninemedics were ultimately upheld, while nine of them, including myself, were acquitted. In March 2013, an additional 21 medics were acquitted, but the convictions of more then a dozen medics still stand.
Bahrain Government has violated the concept of medical neutrality, which is the principle of noninterference with medical services in times of conflict. The principle of medical neutrality is quite simple: warring factions must protect civilians. Medical professionals must provide care to the sick and wounded, regardless of affiliation. Medical facilities, transport, and personnel must be permitted to tend to the wounded without interference. Clearly, the Government of Bahrain did not respect the rules of medical neutrality during the uprising of 2011.
For most, it is unthinkable that a medic would be punished for treating victims of government oppression and bearing witness to those crimes. However, this is a reality too many healthcare professionals face today. That is why I call upon the Government of Bahrain, and governments throughout the world, to release prisoners of conscience and respect the tenants of medical neutrality, for I cannot truly be free until they are free.
At the present time we have four medics in prison:

 
 
Our request is the following:

 
 
What can The United nation do:

 
This is a summary of what Bahrain I people have been through and still going on: