Camp Liberty residents are being denied their fundamental health rights which has lead to the death of 22 Iranian dissidents, the British Medical Association has told Iraq.
In a letter to Iraqi PM Dr Haider al-Abadi, the BMA wrote: “Testimony that we have received from Amnesty International and other global human rights organisations suggests that the inmates of Camp Liberty are being subject to violations of their fundamental health rights.
“These violations include: Extremely restricted access to health professionals for sick individuals; The failure to respect the ordinary rights of patients to medical confidentiality; The denial of travel outside Camp Liberty in order to receive urgent and necessary medical treatment; The failure to provide interpreters so that inmates can have meaningful consultations with health professionals.
“In our understanding, the restrictions on access to timely and appropriate care have resulted in the unnecessary deaths of up to 22 residents of the camp. These restrictions amount to very serious breaches of basic human rights, including the right to health and the right to be free from inhuman and degrading treatment.”
BMA Medical Ethics Committee chairman Dr John Chisholm added: “I am writing therefore respectfully to urge you and your colleagues to take urgent action to address the health needs of the residents of Camp Liberty.”