Human rights

Gaza

Health, medicine, and the conflict in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank

The BMA is deeply concerned by the brutal Hamas attack on 7th October 2023 and the Israeli response. This has resulted in the unacceptable taking of hundreds of hostages, the destruction of medical facilities, and the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, including healthcare workers.

The World Medical Association adopted a BMA-proposed resolution on the protection of healthcare in Israel and Gaza during their Council session in April 2024 and the General Assembly in October 2024. The BMA led efforts in creating and pushing for this resolution and, through extensive discussions, it passed unanimously. 

• Read the WMA resolution on the protection of healthcare in Israel and Gaza – October 2024

Shelling of medical facilities in Gaza

In 2014, health facilities and staff came under fire in Gaza. There were also reports that health personnel had been prevented from reaching injured persons.

• Read Dr Porter’s letter to Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu – August 2014

Sudan

Targeting of healthcare and aid leading to collapse of healthcare system, disease outbreak, and famine

After decades of political and civil unrest, conflict in Sudan reignited in April 2023 and continues to this day with violent clashes between two armed groups, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Unacceptably, healthcare workers, facilities, and patients, have been attacked by both sides. Now, over 10 million people have been displaced and the death toll is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. 

The healthcare system has collapsed, leading to high risks of diseases like cholera breaking out. Extreme shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and physical and bureaucratic blockades and looting of aid has led to more than half the population facing acute food insecurity and famine confirmed in at least three regions, with millions more at risk throughout Sudan. 

• See our posts about our involvement in a Parliamentary roundtable on Sudan – July 2025
• See our post commending MSF’s report and their work with local partners to rebuild healthcare in South Darfur – June 2025

Attacks on hospitals, targeting of health professionals

On 3 June 2019 the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and other paramilitaries conducted a series of violent attacks on peaceful protesters, including physicians, which involved extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary killings, beatings and sexual and gender-based violence. During the attacks, security forces entered two hospitals, Almoalim and Royal Care hospitals, in pursuit of injured protesters.

A similar attack was made on Omdurman Hospital in January 2019. Reports of the attack state that security forces opened fire inside the hospital while looking for individuals who had been injured participating in protests earlier in the day. The intentional targeting of health professionals, including hospitals and medical facilities, is a clear breach of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and of International Humanitarian Law, as well as accepted international human rights norms.

Death penalty for pregnant doctor in Sudan

In 2014, Dr Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, who was eight months pregnant at the time of sentencing, was sentenced to death for converting to Christianity and refusing to make a public recantation of her faith. We wrote to the Sudanese president to condemn this blatant violation of Dr Ibrahim’s rights.

• Read our letter to the Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir – May 2014
• Read our letter to prime minister, David Cameron – May 2014

Burundi

In 2024, the BMA wrote to the Burundi Ambassador to the UK to express our concern regarding the withholding of medical attention and treatment from Dr Christophe Sahabo. In the letter we stressed that the right to health is a human right under International Human Rights treaties and urged the ambassador to ensure that the relevant prison authorities allow Dr Sahabo to be provided with appropriate medical attention, treatment, and care. 

• Read our letter to the Burundi Ambassador to the UK – October 2024

Ukraine

The BMA wrote to the then foreign secretary in 2023 to express our deepening concerns about the targeting of medical personnel and facilities in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The letter urges Government to take necessary steps to reinforce respect for International Humanitarian Law.

• Read our letter to then foreign secretary James Cleverly MP – November 2023

Myanmar

Many in Myanmar had been protesting against the illegal military coup of their democratically elected government. Protestors included doctors and healthcare professionals. As a result, the Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military, have been targeting doctors and allied health professionals. Many have been attacked and some have been killed.

Continuance of solidarity two years on

In 2023, alongside UK Royal Colleges, the BMA lit up their building in red in a moment of solidarity and remembrance for healthcare workers in Myanmar who have risked and lost their lives to provide care in the past year. This solidarity was repeated in 2024.

• See our post – February 2024
• Read the blog – January 2023

Statement in solidarity with Myanmar

In April 2021, the BMA issued a joint statement, alongside signatories from the UK Royal Colleges and other organisations, expressing our solidarity with Myanmar and the human rights abuses that have been occurring. The statement raised our concern for the particular targeting of medical professionals and the purposeful impediment of their ability to offer the highest level of care to their patients.

• Read our statement in solidarity with Myanmar – April 2021
• Read our press release – April 2021

Letter to the then Foreign Secretary on the treatment of doctors and medical students in Myanmar, and response

• Read the response from the then Minister of State for Asia Nigal Adams MP – June 2021
• Read our letter on Myanmar to the then Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab MP – March 2021

Iran

Persecution of peaceful protestors and health professionals threatened

In 2022, we called on the Republic of Iran to cease its persecution of peaceful protestors and health professionals and to adhere to its human rights obligations. Following the protests that erupted in Iran after the killing of Mahsa Aminin while in the custody of the Iranian morality police, doctors attending dying protesters have been forced by security forces and the secret service of the Islamic Republic, against the facts, and under threat of torture and arrest, to certify the causes of death as suicide or the result of pre-existing medical conditions. This is a violation of core medical professional responsibilities and a direct attack on the independence and neutrality of the medical and health professions.

• Read our statement of solidarity for health professionals in Iran – November 2022.

Detention and torture of Dr Djalali

In August 2019, the BMA wrote to the Iranian ambassador and the foreign secretary to raise concerns about the detention of Dr Ahmadreza Djalali who has been denied access to healthcare while in detention and who is expected to be subject to the death penalty.

Withholding or obstructing access to healthcare and treatment contravenes both medical ethics and international law, particularly the right to health. Furthermore, there is growing international consensus that the death penalty equates to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, which violates the right to life – protected by Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In November 2020, the BMA received the alarming news that the execution of Dr Djalali would be carried out imminently. The BMA wrote directly to the Iranian government requesting Dr Djalali’s release.

In 2021, the BMA was informed of further serious deterioration of Dr Djalali’s health, resulting both from torture and being kept in solitary confinement, and wrote once again to the Iranian authorities to demand his immediate release.

Zimbabwe

In January 2021, the BMA wrote to the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe to highlight our concern regarding the health, and human rights of doctors in Zimbabwe. This followed troubling reports of medical professionals being forcibly co-opted into the Zimbabwean armed forces, with deteriorating wages and working conditions, without the right to industrial action.

• Read the letter to the UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe – January 2021

Belarus

In October 2020, the BMA wrote to the foreign secretary regarding disturbing reports of threats being made against Belarusian medical students who protested the controversial and fraudulent re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020.

Human rights abuses by Belarusian security forces are also deeply concerning and is a violation of Article 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the right to free assembly.

• Read our letter to the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab MP – October 2020 

Death penalty for pregnant doctor in Sudan

In 2014, Dr Meriam Yehya Ibrahim, who was eight months pregnant at the time of sentencing, was sentenced to death for converting to Christianity and refusing to make a public recantation of her faith. We wrote to the Sudanese president to condemn this blatant violation of Dr Ibrahim’s rights.

• Read our letter to the Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir – May 2014
• Read our letter to prime minister, David Cameron – May 2014

Turkey

Imprisonment of doctors in Turkey

In 2018 and 2019, the Turkish government arrested, charged and imprisoned a number of doctors for expressing concerns about the public health impacts of violent conflict. We wrote to a range of relevant authorities to express our concerns, as this is a gross violation of human rights, particularly rights to freedom of expression as protected by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was ratified by Turkey in 2003.

• Read our letters to the Turkish head of state, the Turkish ambassador, and the foreign secretary – 2018-2019

Breaches of medical neutrality in Turkey

In 2013, doctors and nurses in Turkey were arrested and threatened with the loss of their medical licenses for treating protesters who were injured during public demonstrations. Most recently, one doctor and three nurses were detained for providing treatment to a 12-year-old child during a curfew imposed as a result of the protest. We have written to relevant authorities to express our concerns about these breaches of medical neutrality.

• Read our letters to the Turkish head of state the Turkish health minister and the Turkish ambassador between 2013 and 2019.
• Read a BMJ editorial on attacks on medics in Turkey – August 2013.

Nicaragua

Health care workers threatened and criminalised for treating protesters

In November 2018, physicians in Nicaragua were dismissed and, in some cases, criminalised for providing medical care to persons involved in anti-government protests. Furthermore, healthcare workers were, in some cases, forced to prioritise care for certain groups based on their political affiliations.

• Read our letter to the Nicaraguan Ambassador, Guisell Morales-Echaverry – October 2018

Afghanistan

Coalition bombing of MSF hospital in Afghanistan

On 3 October 2015, coalition forces bombed the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) trauma facility in Kunduz, Afghanistan. During the attack, 12 hospital staff members and at least 10 patients, including three children were killed. Thirty-seven people, including 19 staff members were injured. The BMA wrote to the Foreign Office to request that the UK government call on President Obama to agree to an independent investigation.

• Read our letter to foreign secretary, Tobias Ellwood MP – November 2015

Egypt

Canadian doctor begins hunger strike in Egyptian custody

In 2013, Dr Tarek Loubani and Professor John Greyson were arrested and detained without charge after being caught up in clashes in Ramsis Square, Cairo, between supporters of Egypt’s deposed president, security forces, and local residents.

Syria

Doctors’ deaths in Syrian custody

In December 2013, Dr Abbas Khan and Dr Osama Baroudi died in custody after being arrested for providing medical treatment to injured civilians during the conflict in Syria. Their arrest, detention and death represent significant breaches of international human rights standards, including rights to a fair trial.

• Read our letter to Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad – December 2013
• Read our letters to Syrian ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari – December 2013

Bahrain

Attacks on medical facilities and unlawful detention of doctors

In 2011, Physicians for Human Rights documented attacks by the Bahraini security forces on medical institutions, including arrests and detention of medical workers providing care to protesters. More than two years after the start of the protests, the Bahraini government has not addressed medical neutrality violations.

• Find out more and hear from Bahraini doctors at Physicians for Human Rights.