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Bahraini Neurosurgeon Arrested and Charged with “Illegal Gathering” for Participating in a Sit‑In

September 6, 2016

Dr. Taha al-Derazi, a prominent Neurosurgeon in Bahrain, was arrested and charged with “illegal gathering” due to his participation in a sit-in in Bahrain. Dr. al-Derazi is a member of the Bahrani Human Rights Obervatory, a group dedicated to monitoring human rights practices in Bahrain. He has been subjected in the past to repeated questioning by Bahrainian authorities, has been suspended from his job in May 2011 after he provided medical care to protestors, and subsequently was forced to resign his position in January 2012, at which time he set up a private practice. On June 10 of this year, he and his wife were banned from traveling abroad to participate in a United Nations Human Rights Council session that he was due to attend.

CCS wrote to the King of Bahrain expressing our belief that no physician should be punished for treating the injured, which they are ethically obligated to do; nor should any doctor be sanctioned for participating in peaceful political activities. We urged the Bahrainian authorities to clarify the reasons for Dr. al-Derazi’s detention and expressed that if he is being detained solely for the non-violent expression of his political beliefs, or because of his provision of medical care, he should be released immediately and unconditionally.

Update: Dr. al-Derazi was released from detention on August 25th, but his charges remain, with a hearing scheduled for August 28th.

August 23, 2016

His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa
King of Bahrain
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace
al-Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Fax: +973 1766 4587

Your Majesty,

The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. We write today to express our grave concern for Dr. Taha al-Derazi, a prominent Bahraini neurosurgeon who, on August 15, was reportedly charged with “illegal gathering” and detained in response to his participation in a sit-in in Duraz village.

Dr. al-Derazi, as you know, is a respected neurosurgeon who is also a member of the Bahraini Human Rights Observatory (BHRO), an organization dedicated to monitoring human rights practices in Bahrain. We are gravely concerned that his detention violates his basic rights to freedom of expression and assembly, and that while he is detained, his patients are not getting the medical care they may need.
Dr. Taha al-Derazi has been subjected to repeated questioning by Bahraini authorities. He was suspended from his job in May 2011 after he provided medical care to protestors, and subsequently was forced to resign his position in January 2012, at which time he set up a private practice. On June 10 of this year, he and his wife were banned from travelling abroad. This prevented him from participating in a United Nations Human Rights Council session that he was due to attend.

No physician should be punished for treating the injured, which they are ethically obligated to do; nor should any doctor be sanctioned for participating in peaceful political activities.

We urge you to clarify for us the reasons for Dr. Taha al-Derazi’s detention. If he is being detained solely for the non-violent expression of his political beliefs, or because of his provision of medical care, he must be released immediately and unconditionally. Can you also notify us as to what he has been charged with, does he have an attorney, and has he had access to his family?

Thank you for your consideration of this most serious and urgent matter. We look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

Copies to:

Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
P.O. Box 1000
al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1753 3033

H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450
al-Manama, Kingdom of His Bahrain
Fax: +973 1753 1284
Email (via website):
Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Khalifa
H.E. Ambassador
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive, NW
Washington, DC 20008
T: 202 342 1111
F: 202 362 2192
E: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org

Related Articles

  • Bahrain Detains Leading Neurosurgeon (humanrightsfirst.org)

Filed Under: Bahrain Tagged With: Bahrain, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Taha al-Derazi, United Nations Human Rights Council

Who We Are

Co-chairs

Joel L. Lebowitz, Rutgers University

Paul H. Plotz, M.D., Washington, DC

Walter Reich, George Washington University

Eugene Chudnovsky, Lehman College

Alexander Greer, Brooklyn College

Vice-chairs

Astronomy – Arno Penzias, New Enterprises Associates*

Biology – Max E. Gottesman, Columbia University

Chemistry – Zafra Lerman, MIMSAD Inc.

Computer Science – Rachelle Heller, The George Washington University

Computer Science – Jack Minker, University of Maryland, College Park

Engineering – Philip Sarachik, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering

Mathematics – Simon Levin, Princeton University

Medical Sciences – J. Joseph Blum, Duke University

Honorary Board Members

Nancy Andrews, Duke University

David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology*

Alan J. Bard, University of Texas

Jacob Bigeleisen (deceased), SUNY, Stony Brook

Raoul Bott (deceased), Harvard University

Owen Chamberlain (deceased), University of California, Berkeley

Stanley Deser, Brandeis University

Edward Gerjuoy, University of Pittsburg

David Gross, (2004 Nobel Prize in Physics), Kavil Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara*

Pierre Hohenberg (deceased), New York University

Walter Kohn (deceased), University of California, Santa Barbara*

James Langer, University of California, Santa Barbara

Peter Lax, New York University

Louis Nirenberg, New York University

Marshall Nirenberg (deceased), National Institutes of Health*

Honorary Board Members

John C. Polanyi, University of Toronto*

Stuart Rice, University of Chicago

Sir Richard J. Roberts, (1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology & Medicine), New England Biolabs*

Myriam Sarachick, City College of New York

Harold Scheraga, Cornell University

Sylvan Schweber (deceased), Brandeis University

Maxine Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Alfred I. Tauber, Boston University

Steven Weinberg, University of Texas, Austin*

Myrna Weissman, Columbia University

Rosalyn S. Yalow (deceased), Mount Sinai School of Medicine*

* Nobel laureate

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