Bahrain Medics Stand Trial for Treating Protesters
Since anti-government protests began in Bahrain in mid-February, regime forces, backed by Saudi troops, have arrested many people, including opposition activists, journalists, teachers, students, doctors, and nurses, and destroyed dozens of mosques and other religious sites
Dozens of Bahraini medical professionals have appeared before a military court for trial over giving medical treatment to the injured anti-government protesters.
Some 24 doctors along with 23 nurses and paramedics were charged with crimes that included participation in efforts to overthrow Bahrain’s monarchy, taking part in illegal rallies and refusing to help persons in need, on Monday.
Medical staff in the Salmaniya Medical Complex in the capital Manama were also charged with lying and exaggerating on satellite channels with the aim of tarnishing the international image of the country.
But activists and human rights groups say the medical personnel were arrested and are being prosecuted for treating anti-regime protestors.
Bahraini doctors have repeatedly said that they were under professional duty to treat all and rejected claims by the authorities that helping anti-regime protesters was akin to supporting their cause.
The 47 accused have been in detention since March, when the country declared martial law as part of a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters.
A number of Bahraini female doctors were released from prison last month after they agreed to sign every confession paper they were given following days of brutal torture and
