While Front Line initially welcomed the appointment of the Royal Independent Investigation Committee and the decision to refer all remaining trials to civilian courts the organisation is concerned at the continued detention of 12 doctors, nurses and other health professionals and the situation of a further 34 who still have charges pending despite being released on bail.
Further Information
According to reports received today, 12 doctors, nurses and health professionals remain in detention, 34 have been released on bail but are still facing charges and 12 have been released without charge. Front Line is particularly concerned at reports that despite the commitment by King Hamad to reinstate those previously dismissed, this has not to date happened and indeed it appears that the dismissals are continuing.
Contrary to normal practice 16 recently qualified doctors who would normally be appointed to a hospital post immediately on graduation have been passed over because of their alleged political activities and left unemployed.
The list of those still in detention includes Front Line former Protection Coordinator for the Middle East Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and Drs, Ali Al Ekri, Basim Daif and Ghassan Daif who all trained in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
In light of recent detailed reports of torture while in detention the organisation is calling on the Government of Bahrain to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well being of all the human rights defenders and health professionals currently in detention and to undertake a thorough investigation of all the allegations of torture and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The full list of those still in detention, those released on bail with charges and those released without charge is attached as a PDF. This also includes the list of the doctors passed over in the recent round of hospital appointments because of their alleged political activities
