Free Hassan Mushaima and all Bahrain Political detainees

Free Hassan Mushaima: Prisoner of Conscience
29 May, 2012

Mr. Hassan Mushaima, a 64 year old is a political prisoner of conscience who has been in detention since March 2011.

He is a prominent leader of the Bahraini opposition movement, the bulk of Mushaima’s life was spent in a prison cell (over 6 years in the 1990’s, then in 2006, 2008 and, more recently, 2011), his only crime being devotion for justice, equality and democracy for Bahraini citizens.

Prior to the popular uprising that took place in February 2011 within the small Middle-Eastern island of Bahrain, Mushaima was in London receiving ongoing medical treatment having been diagnosed with stage IV follicular lymphoma, a malignant cancer, in June 2010, for which he received 6 cycles of chemotherapy under the care of Professor Cunningham, consultant oncologist at the Royal Marsden hospital.

After having responded to the initial chemo-therapeutic drug regime, the plan was to have regular 2 monthly injections of Rituximab (a drug used to prevent relapse of disease, progression and death) for 2 years until January 2013 (appendix- add prof Cunningham letter scan0015).

Mushaima returned to Bahrain in March for a short visit, and was arrested shortly thereafter when the Saudi troops and their tanks occupied Bahrain and took control of the streets, demolishing the iconic Pearl roundabout, previously a hot spot for the peaceful protestors.

During his detention, despite his age and medical condition, Mushaima was subjected extreme physical and psychological torture. Such torture included: direct blows to the body; sleep deprivation; drenching in cold water then placed under a cold air conditioning unit; verbal abuse; and threats regarding his family.

After informing the authorities of his medical condition, Mushaima was blindfolded and taken to a clinic on two occasions, given unknown injections, unaware of the hospital he was taken to, nor the doctor that was treating him. Sometime following the administration of the unknown drugs the doctor in the unknown Bahraini clinic stated that the cancer was still present, although the consultant responsible for Mushaima’s care in London informed him that the cancer had responded to treatment.

His family requested clarification on the treatment he was receiving via their lawyer on 25/08/2011 (appendix, lawyerletter25-08-2011.pdf) and a copy of the medical report, but got a refusal from the military courts.

In addition, Professor Cunningham wrote a letter in October 2011 stating his concern regarding the CT scan, and the need to release him to continue appropriate treatment in the UK (appendix, letter HMoshaima.pdf), yet no action has been taken and Mushaima has not received any treatment in the past 6 months.

The information we have on Hassan Mushaima and his current medical state has caused much concern. His family request that he is released immediately as his condition is rapidly deteriorating, requiring urgent and appropriate medical rehabilitation from Professor Cunningham. If this does not happen soon, his long-term medical prognosis and quality of life is extremely poor, and his family fears that this may eventually lead to his death.

We are asking for your help and support in putting pressure on the Bahraini government for Hassan Mushaima’s immediate release and his transfer to the UK for urgent medical care. …source