Doctors Attacked For Their Troubles in Iraq and Israel

mashriq / arabia / iraq | miscellaneous | non-anarchist press Wednesday July 20, 2005 05:45 by Oread Daily http://oreaddaily.blogspot.com/

In Baghdad dozens of doctors have walked out of one of that city's
busiest hospitals to protest abuse by Iraqi soldiers.

Doctors Attacked For Their Troubles in Iraq and Israel - Oread Daily

In Baghdad dozens of doctors have walked out of one of that city's
busiest hospitals to protest abuse by Iraqi soldiers. According to
Reuters the physicians say the troubles stated "when soldiers barged
into a woman's wing at Yarmouk Hospital, opened curtains and
conducted searches as patients lay in their beds on Monday."

One physician said, a soldier began intimidating and abusing
him. "Before he left he said, 'Why are you looking in disapproval?'
Then he came and punched me lightly on my arm before sticking his
rifle into my stomach and cocking it. I stayed quiet but relatives
of the patients told him to calm down before pulling him out of the
room. Just then, four more soldiers came in and pointed a rifle at
my head. At that point I became scared and begged them to leave me
alone."

Another physician Asaad Hindi commented, "We know the citizens may
be a little upset but we have our rights too and we can't operate
and provide a service to people if we feel under threat."

And relatives of many patients were upset with the entire situation.

Khalid al-Girtani said he was angry because his 57-year-old father
Mahmoud had been ignored all day.

"My father has a stroke and no doctor is here to see him, just look
at him! This is ridiculous," he said as his father lay in bed with
breathing tubes in his nostrils.

Some patients sympathized with the doctors, despite their medical
needs.

"I'm ill and I haven't seen the doctor all day. All I need is a
signature from him so I can get an X-ray that I need to see what's
wrong with my neck. I think they have every right to strike though,
our doctors shouldn't be abused," said Salman Thahir, a frail old
man sitting on his bed.

Ministry of Defense officials were not available for comment on the
incident despite repeated requests.

Iraq's hospitals, needless to say, have been overwhelmed by victims
of suicide bombings and shootings. Yarmouk, a run-down, sparsely
equipped building, has treated many of Baghdad's worst cases.
Overcrowded with patients and staff, it's emergency room hosts a
frenzy of activity every day. It doesn't need soldiers harassing its
staff and patients.

While I'm on the subject of doctors lets move the conversation a
little to the west. On June 6, Dr. Ahmad Maslamani, Director of the
Health Work Committees, was arrested by Israeli security forces in
his home in Jerusalem. The Israeli special forces involved in Dr.
Maslamani's arrest seized a number of private possessions from his
home, such as family pictures, a camera and a video tape.

Dr. Maslamani was arrested before by the Israeli occupation
authority and was imprisoned for 16 months. He was released in March
2003.

Dr. Maslamani is well-known for his involvement in providing medical
services to Palestinian children and women in the remote and under
siege areas.

The last report I could find on Dr. Maslamani came from the Health
Work Committees. It read:

"We want to thank you for your solidarity letters with Dr. Ahmad
Maslamani, the general director of the Health Work Committees, who
has been arrested by the Israeli Authorities on the 6.6.2005. Dr.
Maslamani is since then in prison waiting for trial. Dr. Maslamani
was brought in front of several judges on different days but they
all postponed the verdict till coming Sunday, the 10.7.2005.

"The charges brought against Dr. Maslamani by the Israeli
authorities are of an insignificant value so that the first court
was willing to send him home, except for the interference of the
secret police, who believe that they are standing higher than the
judicial system. (In fact they are!)

"We believe that Dr. Maslamani is being punished because he is a
very active member of the civil society, and because of his activism
regarding the rights of the people to health and freedom of movement
and for his activity against the Apartheid wall. And finally because
he is from Jerusalem.

"It is a shame that the Israeli Authorities are keeping Dr.
Maslamani in prison since over a month away from his family, home
and work. It is to be feared that the Israeli courts are going to
keep on postponing the court sessions in order to punish Dr.
Maslamani, as they have no substantial material to indict him.

"We are asking you again to stand in solidarity with Dr. Maslamani
and to write petitions and protest letters to the Israeli Government
and government representatives.

"We demand the release of Dr. Maslamani immediately."
Sources: Reuters, Dirty Tricks, International Bureau for
Humanitarian NGOs, Gush Shalom, Palestinian NGO Network, Health Now


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