Bahraini medical staff charged
\n6 June 2011<\/p>\n
Dozens of doctors and nurses who treated injured protesters in Bahrain have appeared in court charged with attempting to topple the monarchy. The 47 medics appeared in a special military court in Manama. They have been held since March, when Bahrain declared an emergency law, which was only lifted last week.<\/p>\n
Bahrain\u2018s mainly Shia protesters have been calling for democratic reforms and more rights for the country\u2019s Shia majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. Hundreds of opposition supporters have been detained since March, when Bahrain\u2018s rulers called in military support from its Gulf Arab neighbours \u2013 mostly Saudi Arabia and the UAE \u2013 to suppress the protests.<\/p>\n
More than 20 people were killed during the government\u2019s campaign to stifle the demonstrations. Two people have been sentenced to death for their part in the protests. Four have died in police custody.<\/p>\n
Court restrictions<\/p>\n
Only select journalists are allowed to cover the latest trials from inside the special security court, which has military and civilian judges.<\/p>\n
In April, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) expressed concern about attacks on physicians, patients and unarmed civilians since protests began in February. It said dozens of medics have been arrested \u2013 some by masked men in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n
The Bahraini authorities have denied targeting medics, saying some of Bahrain\u2018s main medical facilities \u201chad been overrun by political and sectarian activity\u201d. Since the lifting of the emergency law, small protests have been held in Shia villages, but they have been quickly dispersed by police using tear gas, rubber bullets, sound grenades and birdshot (small metal pellets), videos on YouTube appear to show.<\/p>\n