ID :
181209
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 14:22
Auther :

Blindfolded Bahraini Doctors Beaten, Tortured by Manama Security Forces

TEHRAN, May 10 (FNA)- Horrifying evidence shed light on brutality of the Bahraini regime's crackdown on medical staff.
Harrowing testimony of torture, intimidation and humiliation from a doctor arrested in the crackdown on medical staff in Bahrain has revealed the lengths to which the regime's security forces are prepared to go to quash pro-democracy protests.

Interviews obtained by The Independent from inside Bahrain tell of ransacked hospitals and of terrified medical staff beaten, interrogated and forced into signing false confessions. Many have been detained, their fate unknown.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty's over-40-year rule.

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar - were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13 to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.

Yet, protests and rallies continued throughout the country in defiance of the martial law put in place by Manama since last month.

During the recent days, Bahrainis repeated their demand for the ouster of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and condemned Riyadh's involvement in the suppression of the revolution.

People have announced that they will continue protests until the regime collapses.

Demonstrators have been demanding constitutional reforms as well as an end to the 230-year-old monarchy, with hundreds camping out peacefully in the capital's Pearl Square since February 14.

Bahraini and Saudi security forces have been brutally suppressing anti-government protestors. So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and about 1,000 others have been injured.

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