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Persecution of Health Workers

Physicians and other health professionals all over the world face persecution resulting from adhering to their duty to provide nondiscriminatory treatment of the injured and sick. PHR documents the deliberate targeting of health care systems and personnel, and advocates accountability for violators.

The Principle of Medical Neutrality

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are trained to treat those in need – regardless of politics, race, or religion. Attacks on health professionals violate the principle of medical neutrality and are grave breaches of international law.

Bahrain: Systematic Attacks on Doctors and Patients

PHR's emergency report documented and decried systematic human rights abuses in Bahrain during and after unrest in February and March 2011. For the first time, forensic evidence documented government attacks on physicians, medical staff, patients, and unarmed civilians with the use of bird shot, physical beatings, rubber bullets, tear gas, and unidentified chemical agents.

Jailed Doctors in Iran

Doctor Arash Alaei and Doctor Kamiar Alaei, two well-known Iranian brothers working in the field of HIV/AIDS, were detained without charge in June 2008 by Iranian authorities. The government used the doctors’ travel to international AIDS conferences as a basis for subsequently charging and convicting the doctors of conspiring with an enemy government — a dangerous conflation of public health diplomacy with treason. PHR worked tirelessly from the moment of the doctors' detention, leading the global movement resulting in their release (Dr. Kamiar in late 2010, Dr. Arash in summer 2011), working to persuade the government of Iran that treating AIDS is not a crime. 

Syria: Serious Violations of Medical Neutrality

Since mid-March, 2011, Syrian government forces have sought to crush citizen uprisings. More than 1,700 people have been killed and at least 10,000 are reported to be in custody or missing. In addition to the widely reported atrocities committed by the government, PHR has discovered reports of serious violations of medical neutrality in Syria. PHR is calling on the Government of Syria to cease its campaign of targeting medical facilities and health workers and their patients, and to safeguard doctors’ obligation to provide neutral and ethical care for civilians.

Secret Clinics Tend to Bahrain’s Wounded (May 21, 2012)

For injured protesters, houses have replaced the country’s largest public hospital, the Salmaniya Medical Complex, a crucial site in the conflict between Bahrain’s ruling monarchy and its opponents since the beginning of a popular uprising in February 2011. Because of a heavy security presence at the hospital, protesters—or people fearful of being associated with Bahrain’s opposition—have been afraid to venture there for more than a year. That reluctance may be responsible for several deaths.

Militarization of Bahraini Health System Causes Widespread Fear and Avoidance of Treatment (May 21, 2012)

The ongoing militarization of Bahrain’s public health system has negatively impacted the country’s citizens especially the sick and wounded, says a new PHR report. According to the report, over the past 14 months, the Government of Bahrain has denied a large segment of the population safe access to impartial medical care, resulting in widespread fear among civilians seeking medical treatment.

Government of Egypt is Urged to Halt Attacks on Medical Establishments and Personnel (May 14, 2012)

In a letter to the Egyptian Ministers of Health, Defense and Interior, PHR called for the Egyptian government to immediately halt all attacks on medical establishments and personnel and to refrain from interfering with the right of the wounded to access medical care.

Bahrain puts doctors on trial (May 11, 2012)

PHR Deputy Director Richard Sollom writes commentary published in GlobalPost, urges frivolous charges be dropped against medics in Bahrain

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Four Imprisoned Bahraini Medical Professionals Should be Released Immediately (April 25, 2012)

Today at his appellate court trial in Bahrain, hospital administrator Younis Ashoori could have been freed from arbitrary detention. The trumped up charges against him could have been overturned, proving to Bahrain’s citizens and the world that the Bahraini government would not dare to uphold a three-year conviction handed down last June by military court. Sadly, this was not the case.

Syrian Medics At The Frontline (April 10, 2012)

In the last thirteen months, at least 8000 Syrian civilians have died in a brutal government crackdown according to the UN. Medical professionals who dare to treat the injured have also found themselves in the line of fire.

Bahraini Hunger Striker Force Fed? If So, It's Torture (March 31, 2012)

For the past seven weeks a well-known human rights activist in Bahrain has led a hunger strike protesting his imprisonment and torture at the hands of his captors. The forced feeding he has likely been subjected to is torture and must end immediately.

Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis and the Doctors Who Risk Their Lives to Address It (March 21, 2012)

The Syrian government escorted a team of UN technical staff into the country this week. Although this ostensible show of glasnost may look encouraging, restricting UN agencies’ access will result in an unreliable assessment of Syria’s humanitarian needs.

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Under the Gun: Ongoing Assaults on Bahrain’s Health System (May 2012)

In February 2011, the Government of Bahrain began targeting health professionals who treated protesters. In April 2012, PHR's Richard Sollom, Deputy Director, and Holly Atkinson, MD, FACP, past President of PHR's Board and volunteer expert, authored a report showing the devastation on Bahrain's health system that have resulted from the Government of Bahrain’s continued assault on doctors, patients, and the healthcare system.

Restriction of Tear Gas Sales to Middle East and North Africa Countries is Positive Step (May 2012)

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced today an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that restricts the sale of tear gas and riot control items to Middle East and North Africa countries undergoing a transition to democracy. The amendment, which successfully passed the US House of Representatives, requires the Secretary of Defense to certify to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees that the security forces of such governments are not using excessive force to repress peaceful protesters before such items would be provided.

All Charges Against the Medical Professionals in Bahrain Must be Expunged (May 2012)

Following the final day of the trial for 20 Bahraini medical professionals who were convicted of charges including occupying a hospital and attempting to overthrow the government, PHR today called for the court to expunge all politically motivated charges.

Bahrain and the Formula One Race: Drivers Should be Informed (April 2012)

PHR calls on the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the governing body of the Formula One, to hold a briefing conducted by human rights defenders and those familiar with the human rights situation in Bahrain.

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Featured Expert

Nizam Peerwani, MD

Nizam Peerwani, MD

A Chief Medical Examiner in Texas since 1979, Dr. Peerwani was one of two investigators for PHR of attacks on health professionals and their patients in Bahrain in 2011. Read More »