3 medicals students at the University of Bahrain were charged with the following: "plotting to overthrow the government,possession weapons and ammunition, forcefully taking over control of Salmamiya hospital and its personnel, stealing medical equipment and fabricating stories to disturb public security." This came after the medical students attended pro-democracy protests in February.
The students were then forced to sign a declaration of loyalty to the Bahraini royal family. Only two agreed to sign. Philip Luther, from human rights charity stated the charges were "simply ludicrous charges against professionals who were working to save lives amid very trying circumstances." This had lead to further concern about allegations of mistreatment. information, from amnesty international has collected information stating doctors have been deprived from sleep, beaten and forced to sign confessions under torture.
This may have accounted for some of the 20 doctors who have being sentenced to jail for more than 15 years for treating the injured during the protests. Fatima Haji, sentenced to five years, has being one the few to speak out saying on February 17th police attacked paramedics and protesters flooding the hospitals with casualties. ambulances were stolen, which only exacerbated the problem. she also spoke how "at 10am we found our colleague in a critical condition after being beaten by police for trying to help the injured."
The torment did not stop there on March 16 the military seized control of the hospital searching all patients and doctors. Thus making their work more difficult. Dr Haji states: "they then started to arrest the doctors, nurses and paramedics."
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