Bahrain court of injustice extends charade trial with another delay in Medics appeal

PHR Decries Postponement in Bahrain Medics Retrial
15 May, 2012 – POMED – PHR

The retrial of twenty Bahraini medics, which was already delayed once in March, has been delayed yet again until June, drawing criticism from human rights groups such as Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). PHR called for the charges to be dropped against all medics, in addition to an investigation into their allegations of torture while being detained. Nabeel Hameed, one of the doctors facing trial, said he was arrested and brutalized after treating protesters. ”We became automatic witnesses,” Hameed said, “That’s a problem. When we saw protesters, straightaway we became automatic witnesses. And to take our credibility away, accuse us of a crime.” Richard Sollom of PHR says the prosecution of the doctors “epitomizes a disturbing sectarian chasm that must be addressed and breached,” and adds, “President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron could lend their support in this regard with more outspoken criticism of their ally’s human rights record.” The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland also spoke out for the medics, writing, “We believe the future for Bahrain has to be one of dialogue and reconciliation. We will continue to contribute through education and continue to advocate for just outcomes.”

In other news, the Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ) released a statement condemning the Bahraini government’s decision to revoke permission to visit the Gulf kingdom, and signed a joint letter to Bahrain’s director of human rights organizations. …more