Three Bahrain medics have criticised colleagues who they claim have damaged the country’s reputation reported The Parliament digital newspaper, according to a BNA report.
The physicians were in Brussels to “put the record straight” over the detention of 20 medical staff who say they were convicted for treating anti-government protesters.
Last week, a security court in Bahrain sentenced the group to up to 15 years in prison although a retrial in a civilian court has now been ordered.
Bahrain’s attorney general denied the medics had been jailed for treating protesters, instead listing charges including inciting sectarian hatred.
On Wednesday, parliament hosted a hearing on the current healthcare situation in Bahrain and the issue is also on the agenda for next week’s mini plenary in Brussels.
On Thursday, three senior doctors from Bahrain told this website that their colleagues’ claims were “ridiculous”.
“The rest of the international community, including the EU, needs to know the truth,” Dr Mohammed Al-Muharraqi, said.
“These medics were detained and put on trial because they neglected their medical duties. They put their political affiliations before their duties,” he said.
“We are saddened by what has happened in our country, but it is important people know the truth. That is the reality.”
His comments were endorsed by Dr Waleed Khalifa Al Manea, chief executive officer of Salmaniya medical complex where many of the detained medics are based.
“We are not here to defend our government, just to state the facts. We have directly witnessed the medical negligence of our colleagues, but this has not been reported in the western media. Protesters effectively took over the hospital and this was condoned by these medics. At the same time, they refused entry to the hospital to others, such as expats.
“These medics need to answer for their actions.”
Both said that the medics who had been put on trial represented a “tiny” number of the 2000 doctors in Bahrain.
Another member of the group visiting Brussels Thursday and Friday, who did not wish to be named, said, “Our fear is that the country is heading towards civil war. We are terrified it will become another Lebanon.”
“The EU is currently putting pressure on Bahrain, but it would be wrong to believe the government there is not concerned about its citizens. Instead of applying such pressure, the EU and others should be relieving pressure on Bahrain.”
During the two-day visit, the three medics were due to have meetings with leading NGOs such as Human Rights Without Frontiers International and Medicins Sans Frontieres.