I am writing to express my strong condemnation of the current massacre being perpetrated against the Bahraini people by Bahraini, Emirati and Saudi armed forces with tacit approval of our government.
As a physician, I am appalled by the silence of our government as hospitals, physicians, nurses and wounded patients are attacked to intimidate and quell this legitimate and peaceful uprising for democracy.
On March 16, Salmaniyah Hospital was seized by Bahraini security forces. Wounded protesters, doctors and nurses were beaten and taken prisoner. The hospital was encircled by tanks prohibiting access.
This has been documented by several human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, The International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International.
While it is a common fact that the Bahraini and Saudi monarchs are ruthless dictators who will stop at nothing to maintain their power, it is disturbing that our government has not only remained silent but also actually turned a blind eye in order to preserve our interests in the region.
Such hypocrisy — of preaching democracy and practicing tyranny — only deteriorates our image in the Middle East and breeds contempt for the U.S.
I urge all of you to join me in asking our government to condemn this massacre and call on our allies — the Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini monarchs — to withdraw immediately from Bahrain and to engage the protesters in dialogue instead.
