Congress Members Call for Pardoning of Bahrain Medics

Photo Credit: ABC

A group of two Senators and 22 Representatives have issued a letter calling for King Hamad of Bahrain to pardon eight medics currently in custody in order “to adhere to international norms of medical neutrality.” The group suggests that the medical professionals were targeted due to the fact that they witnessed the brutality leveled against citizens of Bahrain, and it reiterated calls for the government to “adhere to its promises to implement recommendations from the [BICI report and UN Universal Periodic Review]. The signees include Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Jim Moran (D-VA), and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), among others.

The letter adds, “Pardoning the eight medics currently serving sentences for treating protesters would be a key step in moving Bahrain’s practice in line with its international obligations.” The appeal is being made on behalf of Dr. Ali Ekri, Dr. Ghassan Dhaif, Dr. Mahmood Asghar, Dr. Saeed Al Samahiji, Dheya Ibrahim, Ibrahim Al Demistsani, Ahmed Almushatat, and Hassan Matooq. For full text of the letter click here.

Meanwhile, a Yemeni security official at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a was killed by masked gunmen on his way to work. Yemeni officials suggested al-Qaeda may be linked to the assassination of Kasem Aklan, but the investigation is ongoing. Aklan had worked at the embassy for almost two decades, an embassy official and security sources said.