Syria: Letter-writing campaign Amnesty International

Amnesty International urges all health workers to send a letter to the Syrian authorities before the end of November, and express their concerns regarding reports of serious human rights violations against people wounded in the popular protests, as well as against health professionals perceived to be government opponents.

More than 2600 people have been killed since the current unrest began in Syria in March 2011. Many others have been injured. The recent Amnesty-report Health Crisis: Syrian government targets the wounded and health workers provides a compelling picture of how Syrian authorities have turned hospitals and medical staff into instruments of repression by blocking access to health care for people wounded during protests and other incidents related to the unrest; and preventing health professionals from treating such patients freely and without fear of reprisal. It is based on research conducted in August and September 2011 in the form of interviews with individuals wounded during the ongoing disturbances; relatives of those wounded and subsequently detained; relatives of people with firearm and other injuries related to the unrest; and health workers, including surgeons, doctors, nurses and other hospital employees. 

Health workers have been among the thousands of people who have been arrested by the army and security forces and detained incommunicado where torture and other ill-treatment are reported to be rife either for treating people injured during the unrest without reporting them to the authorities or because they are suspected of peaceful activities, such as participating in peaceful demonstrations and providing information about human rights violations.

More information on the report

Example letter and further instructions