Rula Al-Safar
An angel of Mercy
Rula Alsaffar (48yrs) a cancer survivor, Head of Bahrain nursing society & emergency nursing at the CHS, arrested on 4th of April 2011 for false allegations.
During the crackdown on protesters in Sitra on 15 March 2011 then the Pearl Roundabout on 16 March 2011, she was the motivation of doctors, nurses and medics, orchestrating everything to save lives. An eyewitness doctor said that she was all over the hospital running around checking on patients, organizing the hospital while all were panicking and stressful and working aside medical staff treating patients. The doctor says that he and a couple of friends were trying to sleep on hospital beds after spending all night and day treating patients but she stopped them saying “Don't sleep, these beds are for patients!”. I told her that we were here since 7am and that we needed to rest but she replied, “Get up I don't hear you. We are here to save lives not to rest.”
Despite her dedication in saving lives, giving back to the community and promoting Bahrain internationally, she has been among the first to be targeted by the Bahraini security forces. Mrs. Saffar was called by the Bahrain security forces for interrogation on 4 April 2011 and since then she has been detained . Later on, she was charged with “The inexcusable refrain from aiding people”, “The possession of unlicensed weapons and ammunition”, “Refraining from carrying out their employment duties, in aims of hindering medical work, consequently endangering people’s health and lives”, “The attempt of forcefully occupying a public building” and “Participating in unlicensed protests and rallies
She is a member of the following societies:
• President of Bahrain Nursing Society – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Head of Cancer Support Group and Executive Board member of Bahrain Cancer Society – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Vice president of the Ministers’ Consultative Committee at the Ministry of Health – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Member of the CPR Committee at the Ministry of Health – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Member of the Registration and Licensure Office – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Member of the Higher Training Committee at the Ministry of Health – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Emergency and Disaster Preparedness – WHO consultant to Jordan and China
• Participated as a collaborator in the Country Cooperation Strategy for World Health Organization and Bahrain
• President of Bahrain Nursing Society – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Head of Cancer Support Group and Executive Board member of Bahrain Cancer Society – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Vice president of the Ministers’ Consultative Committee at the Ministry of Health – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Member of the CPR Committee at the Ministry of Health – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Member of the Registration and Licensure Office – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Member of the Higher Training Committee at the Ministry of Health – Kingdom of Bahrain
• Emergency and Disaster Preparedness – WHO consultant to Jordan and China
• Participated as a collaborator in the Country Cooperation Strategy for World Health Organization and Bahrain
Also a member in the following International Organization:
• Board of Nurse Examiners for State of Texas. Licensure: Texas, USA (#558263) 1990 – Present.
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. Pennsylvania, USA (#RN-352549-L) 1999 – Present.
• State of Delaware, Division of Professional Regulation. Delaware, USA (#L1-0028334) 1998 – Present.
• American Nursing Association
• Oncology Nursing Society
• Social Work Society
• American Red Cross
• American Society of Nurse Practitioner
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• Bahrain Nursing Society
• Bahrain Cancer society
• Emergency Nursing Association
• Board of Nurse Examiners for State of Texas. Licensure: Texas, USA (#558263) 1990 – Present.
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. Pennsylvania, USA (#RN-352549-L) 1999 – Present.
• State of Delaware, Division of Professional Regulation. Delaware, USA (#L1-0028334) 1998 – Present.
• American Nursing Association
• Oncology Nursing Society
• Social Work Society
• American Red Cross
• American Society of Nurse Practitioner
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses
• Bahrain Nursing Society
• Bahrain Cancer society
• Emergency Nursing Association
……….etc.
In Rula’s first trial session, she reported to the judge that she has been subjected to torture in detention, however she was not listened to and instead she got carried out from the court while she was still screaming out about the abuse that her and other detainees have endured.
Read More :BCHR : http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4471
"Bahrain Nursing Society (BNS) has condamned the arrest of a Bahraini nurse who allegedly snuck an injured rioter into the hospital and treated him"
"BNS" President Rula Al-Saffar said that alba occupational nurse and first-aid Instructor Ebrahim al Demestani only acted according to nursing ethics and the country should be proud to have a health profissional like him.
"He (Mr. Al Demestani) provided nursing care no matter what the situation was. He did what he is suppose to do. He did what the ethics of nursing is all about".
Ian Black, London
June 15, 2011
BAHRAIN has defied international criticism by continuing the military trial of dozens of medical personnel accused of trying to topple the government.
At the hearing, attended by Stephanie Williams, the top US diplomat in Bahrain, Ali al-Ekri, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Rula al-Saffar, the head of the nursing society, said their confessions were extracted after they had been tortured.
They said they had to sign their confession papers while blindfolded.
3 - Amnesty International:
22 August 2011
The Bahraini authorities’ decision to try two prominent women activists in a military court is a backward step and raises concerns that they will not receive a fair trial, Amnesty International said today.
Roula al-Saffar, head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, and Jalila al-Salman, vice-president of the Bahrain Teachers' Association (BTA), have been released on bail after being detained for several months for their involvement in pro-reform protests.
Read More: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node?page=9
4 - BCHR:
HRF: Bahraini “Sham” Trials Condemned
September 8, 2011
Washington, DC – The military trial of 20 doctors and other medics who treated injured protestors during pro-democracy protests resumed this week, further undermining Bahrain’s claim to respect human rights. The remaining doctors who had been in detention – some for many months – were released, but the charges against them still remain. Some are in extremely poor health after 9 days on hunger strike and are need of immediate medical treatment. Despite assurances that these cases would be tried in civilian courts, the cases are slated to proceed in military court and verdicts are anticipated by Sept 29.
5 – BCHR:
Union members Rola Al-Saffar and Ibrahim Al-Demistani face defamation charges.
(BCHR/IFEX) - The High Criminal Court, presided over by Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khalifa, a member of the ruling family, has said that it will come to a decision on 24 March 2009 regarding the case brought by officials from the Bahrain Ministry of Health against Rola Al-Saffar, the president of the Bahrain Nursing Association (BNA), and Ibrahim Al-Demistani, the BNA's secretary.
6 - Front Line:
Bahrain: Jalila Al Salman and Rula Al Saffar go on hunger strike in protest at ongoing torture and ill treatment in custody
Posted on 2011/08/03
Front Line is deeply concerned for the safety and well being of Mrs Jalila Al Salman, vice president of the Bahrain Teachers's Society and Mrs. Rula Al Saffar Assistant Professor at the College of Health Sciences and the Head of Bahrain Nursing Society, following reports received to day that they have gone on hunger strike in protest at their continuing torture and ill treatment while in custody.
Rula Al-Safar with Jalila Al-Salman
7 - BCHR:
On 21 August 2011 Bahraini authorities released Rola al-Safar, the country’s top nursing official, and a teachers’ union official, Jalila al-Salman, after several jailhouse meetings with the head of an international panel investigating alleged abuses in Bahrain. They were detained for over five months during crackdowns on Shiite-led protests.
The charges against both activists are not dropped. Next Sunday 28 August 2011 Ms Rula AlSafar along with more than dozen doctors and nurses will appear at military court again.
Read More: http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node?page=9
Colleagues of Rula Al-Safar in profession and detention.
Dr. Koloud Al Durazi, Obstetrician & Gynecologist. She was arrested in her house after being attacked by police, on April 14th, at 12am. We are proud of you Dr. Koloud Al Durazi
Dr. Jalila Al Aali, Endocrinologist. Her family dropped her off at Adliya CID after being called in for questioning, on April 4th. She was released on April 27th. We are proud of you Dr. Jalila Al Aali
Dr. Nayera Sarhan, Family Physician. She was arrested in her house after being attacked by police, on April 14th, at 12am. We are proud of you Dr. Nayera Sarhan
Dr. Nehad Al Shirawi, ICU Consultant and Pulmonologist. She was arrested from the hospital and taken to Adliya CID, on April 5th. We are proud of you Dr. Nehad Al Shirawi
