Syria accused of hospital repressions

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- The Syrian government has turned hospitals into instruments of repression, targeting patients and doctors to crush opposition, a rights group alleges.

A report by Amnesty International alleges wounded patients in at least four government-run hospitals have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

And hospital workers suspected of treating protesters have themselves faced arrest and torture, an AI release said Tuesday.

"It is deeply alarming that the Syrian authorities seem to have given the security forces a free rein in hospitals, and that in many cases hospital staff appear to have taken part in torture and ill treatment of the very people they are supposed to care for," said Cilina Nasser, Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa researcher.

Many protesters consider it safer to leave major wounds untreated rather than risk going to hospitals, she said.

Patients have allegedly been assaulted by medical staff, health workers and security personnel in the National Hospitals in Banias, Homs and Tell Kalakh and the military hospital in Homs, Amnesty International said.