Frontline Defenders: Bahrain doctors at risk
 

Medical Professionals
When protesters in Bahrain were met with violence and repression starting in February 2011, doctors, nurses, EMTs and other medical professionals did what they were trained to do, as well as what they were obligated to do - treat the injured. Both in hospital and in field clinics, Bahraini medical workers tended to those in need. In an unprecedented step, however, the government sent security forces and ultimately the military into the hospitals to detain the injured, while also shutting down medical facilities and targeting the medics. The Geneva Conventions provide for protection of medical workers under the principle of medical neutrality.

Among a widespread pattern of repression, Bahraini security forces entered and took over medical care facilities - both public and private; interrogated, detained, beat and tortured medical personnel; stole ambulances and posed as medics; established checkpoints outside medical facilities; and abducted medical professionals providing services at field clinics.

In the most egregious case affecting the medical community, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ali Al-Akri was abducted from the operating room at Salmaniya Hospital while performing surgery on March 17.

On 29 September, 20 Bahraini medical professionals were sentenced by a security court. The sentences ranged from five to fifteen years on a range of spurious charges ranging from inciting hatred of the regime to possessing weapons.

UPDATESince the initial verdicts the medics cases have been going through months of appeals and review. On 28 March convictions against most of the medics charged with misdemeanors were acquitted. Earlier, other medics facing more serious charges had their sentences reduced or were also acquitted. However, most of the medical professionals who were arrested during the wave of suppression by the government have yet to be reinstated to their jobs.

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Dr. Ali Al Ekri, 44 years old, is an orthopedic surgeon, given a 15 year sentence. He volunteered in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, and upon his return was recognized by the King of Bahrain for his “brave act for all of Bahrain.” Dr. Al Ekri had trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Sentenced to 15 years, redcued to 5 years on appeal - IMPRISONED

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Ms. Rula Al Saffar, 48 years old, is the President of the Bahrain Nursing Society, given a 15 year sentence. Ms. Saffar is a breast cancer survivor, who used her experience as motivation to train others to detect early signs of breast cancer throughout the Middle East. Ms. Saffar is the only female medic who remained in custody for almost 5 months. Sentenced to 15 years, ACQUITTED

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Dr. Nada Dhaif, 39 years old, is a dentist and mother of 2, sentenced to 15 years in prison. She was volunteering at a makeshift clinic at the Pearl Roundabout, and was detained from her home at 3 AM on 19 March. Dr. Dhaif has reported being subjected to torture while in custody of the security forces. Dr. Dhaif has two daughters, aged 7 and 9. Sentenced to 15 years, ACQUITTED

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Dr. Nader Diwani, 53 years old, is a pediatrician, sentenced to 15 years. Dr. Diwani was arrested in his home on 2 April. Sentenced to 15 years, reduced to 1 month, RELEASED ON TIME SERVED

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Dr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Omran, 47 years old, and is a family GP, sentenced to 15 years. Dr. Omran has six sons and one daughter. He has served as an advisor to the World Health Organization, and earned a Master's degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland/Medical University of Bahrain program. Sentenced to 15 years, ACQUITTED

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Dr. Mahmoud Asghar, 40 years old, is a pediatric surgeon, given a 15 year sentence. Dr. Asghar was arrested in 17 March while leaving Salmaniya Hospital. He briefed journalists on the conditions of the injured at Salmaniya Hospital. Dr. Asghar is married with 3 children and serves as a medical consultant for a number of charities. Sentenced to 15 years, reduced to 6 months, RELEASED ON TIME SERVED

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Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al Oraibi, 39 years old, is a rheumatologist, given a 15 year sentence. He was arrested during a raid on his house in the early morning hours of 1 April. Sentenced to 15 years, reduced to 1 month, RELEASED ON TIME SERVED

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Dr. Ghassan Dhaif, 45 years old, a maxillofacial surgeon, and his wife Dr. Zahra Al Sammak, an anesthetist, were given 15 and 5 year sentences, respectively. Dr. Dhaif and Dr. Al Sammak trained at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. They have three children, aged 17, 13 and 9. Sentenced to 15 years, reduced to 1 year - RELEASED ON TIME SERVED

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Dr. Bassim Dhaif, 47 years old, is an orthopedic surgeon, sentenced to 15 years. Dr. Dhaif was forced to stand for 2 weeks straight during his detention, and as a result has suffered loss of sensation in and discoloration of his feet. Sentenced to 15 years, reduced to 1 month, RELEASED ON TIME SERVED

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Mr. Sayed Marhoon Al Wedaie is the Director of Paramedics and Ambulances at Salmaniya Hospital, given a 15 year sentence. Sentenced to 15 years, ACQUITTED

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Dr. Fatima Haji, 33 years old, is a rheumatologist, given a 5 year sentence. Dr. Haji has a 3-year old son. She was arrested when 30 armed plainclothes security officers came to her house in the middle of the night. She reports on being tortured, including facing sexual assault while in custody, during which time she was kept in solitary confinement for 22 days. Sentenced to 5 years, ACQUITTED

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Dr. Saeed Al Samahiji is an opthamologist, given a 10 year sentence. Dr. Samahiji suffered high blood pressure and required emergency surgery as a result of his ordeal in detention. Sentenced to 1o years, reduced to 1 year - RELEASED ON TIME SERVED

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Mr. Ibrahim Al Demistani, 43 years old, is a senior nurse, sentenced to 15 years. Mr. Al Demistani's 18-year old son was killed on 17 February by Bahraini security forces. Sentenced to 15 years, reduced to 3 years, IMPRISONED

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Dr. Hassan Mohammed Nasser Al Toblani, 43 years old, is head of the ICU at Salmaniya Hospital, sentenced to 10 years. Dr. Al Toblani has 4 daughters and one son. He previously received awards by two Bahraini Ministers of Health and has represented Bahrain internationally at conferences on critical care medicine. Sentenced to 10 years, ACQUITTED

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Dr. Qassim Mohammed Omran, is an intensive care physician, given a 15 year sentence. Sentenced to 15 years, TRIED IN ABSENTIA

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Dr. Najah Khalil Al Haddad, is a family physician and Deputy Chief of Medical Services for Primary Health Care at Salmaniya Hospital, given a 5 year sentence. CHARGES QUASHED

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Ms. Dheya Ibrahim Abu Idris, 36 years old, is a nurse, given a 5 year sentence. She has worked at Salmaniya Hospital for 13 years, including in the Intensive Care Unit and the Artificial Kidney Unit. CHARGES QUASHED

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Mr. Ali Al Sadadi, is an assistant paramedic, sentenced to 15 years. Sentenced to 15 years, TRIED IN ABSENTIA


Mr. Mohammed Faiq Ali Al Shehab, is a lab technician, given a 5 year sentence. Sentenced to 5 years, ACQUITTED

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