Amnesty Int'l Urgent Action: Verdict approaching in Bahrain medics' ca
 

15-05-12 06:20 PM

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Further information on UA: 296/11 Index: MDE 11/031/2012 Bahrain Date: 15 May 2012
The verdict on the case of 20 health professionals on trial in Bahrain is scheduled to be announced on 14 June. If convicted and imprisoned, all 20 would be prisoners of conscience.
On 10 May, the defence lawyers presented their final arguments in the case of the 20 health professionals appealing to the High Criminal Court of Appeal against their convictions of offences including "illegal possession of firearms for a terrorist purpose", "attempting to occupy a public hospital using force" and "attempting to topple the system of government by force" for which they were sentenced prison terms of between five and 15 years. On 26 April, the prosecution presented their arguments too, accusing the doctors of occupying the hospital and possessing weapons. Amnesty International is not aware of any substantial evidence presented in court during this trial that could prove the accusations against the health professionals.
The organization believes that the real reason for targeting them was that they were very vocal in denouncing the excessive force used by the armed forces against peaceful protesters to the international media and exercised their rights to freedom of expression and association during marches and protests. For these reasons the organisation believes that if convicted and imprisoned, the 20 would be prisoners of conscience.
Many in the group of 20 health professionals allege they were tortured in detention, including by being beaten, kicked, subjected to electric shocks, forced to stand up for prolonged hours, deprived of sleep and going to the toilet and held in solitary confinement. No independent investigation into their allegations of torture is known to have taken place.
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