Bahrain: Doctors Urge U.S. Support, Protester Killed

Ali Alekri, a Bahraini surgeon sentenced to 15 years for treating protesters, expressed concern over the international community’s silence on the continuing crackdown: “The international community did nothing. We expect pressure from the Americans, and we do not know why they did not do that. Possibly there is a conflict of interest.” The Bahraini Government announced Thursday that the National Safety Court would be disbanded. Alice Fordham writes that although State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was “deeply disturbed” about the sentencing of medical professionals, “officials have stopped short of directly condemning Bahrain’s authorities.” Joe Stork of Human Rights Watch noted, “The U.S. government has plenty to say about human rights in Iran, Syria or Libya but rather loses its voice when it comes to Bahrain.”

Ahmed Jaber al-Qatan, a 16-year-old protester, was killed by security forces, al-Wefaq reported. The group added, ”The martyrdom of young Jaber falls under the systematic oppression of those demanding democracy in Bahrain.” The Ministry of the Interior confirmed Jaber’s death, attributing it to cardiac arrest, and also confirmed that riot police fired tear gas and sound grenades at around 20 youths gathered in Abu Saiba Thursday night.