MSF Alleges Torture in Bahraini Hospitals
\nBy Shannon June 20, 2011<\/p>\n
The humanitarian organization M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders), alleges that Bahraini security forces regularly tortured patients at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) in Manama. Recently returned from Bahrain, MSF\u2019s head of mission Jonathan Whittall reports that after security forces took control of the hospital in March, \u201cmany of the wounded with injuries that could have been sustained during the protests were taken to the sixth floor, where they were beaten three times a day.\u201d The MSF testimony essentially describes a \u201ctorture chamber\u201d within the hospital, providing new evidence that the crackdown has not been limited to protest leaders. Whittall says, \u201cthe hospital became a place to be feared.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 47 medical professionals currently on trial worked at the SMC hospital. After working with Bahraini doctors and nurses for months, MSF claims that the charges against them are groundless. Rather, Whittall says, \u201cmany of the doctors feel that they have been singled out and targeted because of their standing in society; because they spoke out against the violence, and that some worked at medical stations set up in Pearl Square during the height of the protests.\u201d Whittall also agrees with many critics, that the recent reforms implemented by the regime have been superficial. …more<\/a><\/p>\n