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Irish trained doctor Ali al-Ekri after hearing the result of the re-trial. Hasan Jamali/AP/Press Association Images

Tánaiste seeks clemency for Bahraini medics

The doctors and nurses were sentenced after being found guilty of aiding an uprising against the Gulf kingdom’s regime.

EAMON GILMORE HAS expressed his concern over the long prison sentences handed down to a number of medical professionals in Bahrain.

Bahrain’s appeal court acquitted nine of the medics on Thursday and cut the jail terms of nine others.

One of the nine medics who was not acquitted in the re-trial this week is Dr Ali al-Ekri who trained at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin. His 15-year sentence was cut to five years so he still faces jail time. Another Irish-trained doctor, Bassam Dhaif, was given a shorter jail term of between a month and three years and is not expected to be imprisoned again.

The charges came after events which took place in the Salmaniya Medical Complex in March last year during a time of popular unrest in Bahrain as part of the wider Arab Spring movement. An appeals court acquitted nine medics but the nine others were jailed for their roles in the anti-regime protests.

The case, which has prompted widespread criticism from human rights groups, saw the medics handed jail sentences of between five and 15 years by a semi-military tribunal last September having faced a number of charges including possession of weapons and denial of treatment to Sunni Muslims.

The doctors also stood accused of spreading false news – particularly concerning the condition of wounded protesters – illegal acquisition of medicines and medical facilities, and of participating in demonstrations.

Gilmore said he has already communicated his concerns about the sentences to the Bahraini authorities through diplomatic channels.

“I welcome the fact that nine of the medical professionals originally sentenced have now been acquitted and that only a small number of the remaining nine whose sentences were upheld are likely to serve out their jail sentences,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said in a statement before urging clemency for all 18 doctors and nurses.

Given the great concerns and doubts which have surrounded this case from the start, and in the wider interests of promoting urgently needed reconciliation within Bahrain, I urge the Bahraini authorities to consider extending clemency to those whose sentences have now been upheld.

The medical professionals can now seek a further appeal to the Court of Cassation in Bahrain. Gilmore added that he hopes such appeals will be “speedily expedited and that the individuals in question will not be re-arrested”.

The Tánaiste also noted that the cases had attracted much attention after the findings of the Bahrain International Commission of Inquiry found that a number of the men concerned had been tortured and ill-treated in custody.

Read: Bahrain medics jailed over Arab Spring protests acquitted, sentences reduced

Earlier: Govt urged to take action over jailed Bahraini doctors who trained in Ireland>

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    Mute Eric Lensherr
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:58 PM

    I’d be more concerned with the cocaine all the other houses are storing on their roofs.

    383
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    Mute Vic
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:37 AM

    That’s a standard way to catch people in the Netherlands, you can buy fake snow to put on the roof! Rookie mistake lol

    201
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:51 PM

    Or just use LEDs and keep the snow on your roof, better quality cannabis aswell imo

    29
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    Mute Paul McGuigan
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    Feb 13th 2015, 7:59 PM

    Or a roofie mistake

    13
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:42 PM

    So you wait for it to snow, and start sticking, even in the dead of night, and then you clamber up onto the roof with your pre-prepared several sacks of fake snow and proceed to cover your roof with the stuff. While it’s snowing.

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    Mute Ewan Scott-Douglas
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:38 AM

    Next time get some better insulation.

    89
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    Mute dearg doom
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:46 AM

    You can’t always predict the snow, and you can’t just go up there and put fake snow on the roof in case it snows overnight. That would look even more conspicuous.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:45 PM

    Exactly dude, should have read all comments before i posted.

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    Mute Joe Bloggs
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:35 AM

    Idiots!

    86
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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:53 AM

    Probably smoking too much of their own produce!

    70
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    Mute Robbie O'Flynn
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:11 PM

    These guys werent obeying to the old saying…..
    “Dont get high on your own supply!”

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    Mute twonky kong
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    Feb 13th 2015, 1:20 PM

    Dopes !

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:51 PM

    (PUN)

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    Mute Hoof Hearted
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    Feb 13th 2015, 6:04 PM

    Doh !

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    Mute jason bourne
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Just paint your roof white

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    Mute Alanearls
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    Feb 13th 2015, 6:21 PM

    Then when the snow melts the cops just drive around looking for houses with white roofs ;-)

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    Mute Neil Corcoran
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:14 PM

    That story is 2 weeks old, slow news day?

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:32 PM

    Snow news day?

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    Mute Neil Corcoran
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:15 PM

    Badum tish!

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    Mute The Dabbler
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:24 PM

    6×6 grow tent worked for me. Minimal heat escaping.

    66
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    Mute Hank Schrader
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:04 PM

    The big electricity usage is usually a good give away too, unless… You just bypass the meter.

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:53 PM

    For commercial maybe but for personal use its using no more power than your front garden spotlights.

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    Mute Dsl
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:55 AM

    Just stop growing that Shyte

    31
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:54 PM

    Can only think of 2 reasons why it may be “Shyte” 1) Useless Grower 2) Additives to add weight

    No cannabis consumer wants either of the two, they want good quality locally sourced organic cannabis

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    Mute Critical Thoughts
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:28 PM

    And I thought music snobs were annoying.

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    Mute Dsl
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    Feb 13th 2015, 7:15 PM

    Under heat lamps and grow with chemicals is organic ! Then Possibly believe e. cigarettes are healthy too ! Ignorant !

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    Mute Tom Red
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    Feb 13th 2015, 11:39 AM

    Thick as bottled shit…

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    Mute Shay Bourke
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    Feb 13th 2015, 12:34 PM

    This happen down in Tipperary a few years ago around the time of the big freeze. They were growing cannabis but their roof was the only one that had no snow.

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:02 PM

    Good way to weed them out! Drugs are for mugs.

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    Mute Wastrel
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    Feb 13th 2015, 8:27 PM

    thanks, dad.

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    Mute dabuyincojen
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    Feb 13th 2015, 3:01 PM

    Dopes!

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 13th 2015, 2:35 PM

    Snow use complaining!
    Snow use is bad for you!

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