Bahrain Military Court Sentences 20 Medical Workers

A military court in Bahrain convicted 20 doctors and medical workers, imposing prison sentences of up to 15 years, for treating protesters that were wounded in clashes earlier this year, according to the Bahrain News Agency.

A military court in Bahrain convicted 20 doctors and medical workers, imposing prison sentences of up to 15 years, for treating protesters that were wounded in clashes earlier this year, according to the Bahrain News Agency.

A protester was also sentenced to death for running over and killing a police officer in the minority-ruled Sunni kingdom, while another was sentenced to life imprisonment. 

The court said the doctors took over the hospital and had possession of weapons, while denying medical care to Sunni patients. 

The sentencing was heavily criticized by rights groups including Amnesty International.

Amnesty International said the court session lasted only seven minutes, and authorities accused the medical staff of using Manama’s Salamaniya Medical Complex, their workplace, as a “control center” to plan the protests. The defendants denied the charges.

“These are simply ludicrous charges against civilian professionals who were working to save lives amid very trying circumstances,” said Philip Luther, the deputy director of the London-based rights group’s regional office.

A lawyer for the group said they will appeal the verdict next week in front of the High Court of Appeal in Bahrain’s civilian justice system.

“It appears that the real reason for targeting these health workers was the fact that they denounced the government crackdown on protesters in interviews to international media,” Luther added.

“We’ve repeatedly said that Bahraini authorities should never have used military courts to prosecute ordinary civilians, including doctors, teachers and human rights activists.”