Six Bahraini medics arrested day after appeals rejected

The medical staff are considered to be prisoners of conscience

Six medical staff - whose prison sentences for their role in last year's pro-reform uprising in Bahrain were upheld yesterday - have been arrested a day after Amnesty International called on the Bahraini government to refrain from jailing them.

At the time of the arrests, their families and lawyers were not told where they were being taken. The organisation considers the six to be prisoners of conscience and has found no evidence that any of them used or advocated violence in their role in last year’s pro-reform demonstrations.

Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Ann Harrison said:

“Today's imprisonment once again marks the lack of any real commitment from Bahrain's government to be held accountable and deliver true justice for victims of human rights violations.

“Despite the government’s claims that the medics committed a criminal offence, Amnesty International believes they have been jailed solely for peacefully exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly and therefore they should be immediately and unconditionally released.”