Bahrain: One Month After Tests, Imprisoned Former Cancer Patient Still Denied Information Regarding His Health Situation

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - There is concerning situation over on-going lack of transparency in providing imprisoned political leader Hasan Mushima (65 years old), his family, and his lawyer with the latest results of his medical examination, putting his life as a former cancer patient in risk, particularly after recent medical tests revealed a new tumor in his body.On the 22nd of December 2012, Mushaima underwent surgery at the Bahrain military hospital in order to get a sample of the tumor. He was told that he will know the results within 2 weeks. More than one months has passed, and the results of this test have not been provided to him, his family or his lawyer who live in constant concern over his health.This is not the first time that prison administration officials have hidden Mushaima’s medical results, as he is still awaiting the results of another biopsy he underwent on the 4th of November 2012; he was promised the results of this biopsy within ten days, a deadline which elapsed more than two months ago.Since August 2011, Mushima’s lawyer has repeatedly asked for information about the health conditions of his client and the treatment he has received while in detention without receiving the requested information apart from information relating to blood pressure, diabetes, and the operation which he underwent in his ear. None of the information relates to his cancer.The political opposition leader Mr Hassan Mushaima is serving a life sentence which was initially passed by a military court in June 2011, and upheld in Jan 2013 by court of cassation. During his detention, and despite his age and medical condition, Mr. Mushaima was subjected to extreme physical and psychological torture that was documented by the Bahrain Independent commission of Inquiry appointed by the king.The Bahrain Center for Human Rights repeats its calls for the immediate release of Mr. Hassan Mushaima as he is a prisoner of conscience who was imprisoned solely for practicing his right to freedom of speech. The BCHR demands that he be immediately provided with access to the necessary medical examination and treatment that he requires, inside or outside of Bahrain, in order to avoid any further risk to his life. The BCHR holds the Bahraini authorities responsible for the life of Hassan Mushaima and his well-being.Background information:In 2010, Mr. Hassan Mushaima (65 years old) received cancer treatment for stage IV follicular lymphoma (a malignant cancer); he undertook 6 cycles of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden hospital. In order to prevent the relapse of the disease, he was advised by doctors to take two injections of Rituximab on a monthly basis for two years (until January 2013). Since his arrest on 17 March 2011 in Bahrain, there has been no confirmed information that Mushaima has been provided with the required preventive medication while in prison. In October 2012, and after conducting scans for Mr. Mushaima, a doctor informed him that a tumor in his pelvis area had been observed./129