Bahrain upholds sentences for physicians

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MANAMA, Bahrain, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- A court in Bahrain announced Monday it ruled to uphold the convictions of healthcare workers accused of violating ethical codes during last year's uprising.

Bahrain Deputy Attorney General Abdulrahman al-Sayyed said a court of cassation ruled Monday that an appeal filed on behalf of physicians accused of violating their code of ethics last year was turned down, the official Bahrain News Agency reports.

Sentences for the nine physicians range from one year to five years in prison. All of the accused had worked at the Salmaniya medical complex in Manama.

The complex in Manama was raided by Bahraini security forces in March 2011 as part of the regime's crackdown against the Shiite majority.

Officials with Doctors without Borders claimed security forces in the country routinely beat patients at the medical complex who suffered injuries during anti-monarchy rallies.

The official news agency, however, reported that the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry had found the medics served dual roles as political activists and medical personnel.

The monarchy was criticized by large parts of the international community for its crackdown on dissidents.

At least 50 people were killed during last year's uprising.