Urgent Appeal on behalf of imprisoned doctors in Bahrain

Published: Tuesday, July 05, 2011

CRISIS IN BAHRAIN - As the human rights crisis continues in Bahrain Front Line is deeply concerned about the ongoing prosecution of doctors and nurses who are facing the prospect of prison sentences simply because they treated injured demonstrators during the recent disturbances.

We are also concerned at the severe sentences handed down on human rights defenders and political activists including Front Line's former Protection Coordinator for the Middle East Abdulahadi Al Khawaja who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment.

Front Line deplores the unprecedented and brutal action taken by the Government of Bahrain against 47 members of the medical profession who were arrested, several of them reportedly tortured, and all of whom are currently being subjected to an unfair trial. A number of those currently detained and on trial have completed part of their medical training in Ireland.

In no other country in the world have we witnessed doctors and nurses persecuted on such a scale as a result of their legitimate humanitarian actions. They feel abandoned by the international community and need your support.

Please - show your support for these brave men and women - add your name to the open letter to the King of Bahrain via the link below and which will be published in The Guardian and the London Independent this Friday

If you would like to add your name to this Open Letter to King Hamad please click here.