Aleppo Doctor Launches Legal Action against Russia at European Court of Human Rights

There are just 30 doctors left to care for rebel-held east Aleppo’s 250,000 residents who are suffering heavy Russian-backed Syrian government shelling.   The last cariologist in Aleppo’s eastern neighbourhood describes the situation in the city as “inescapable hell”.  According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, over 600 medical staffers have been killed in the past few years.   Aleppo – Syrian Cardiologist,  Moawyah al-Awad, is now forced to operate from an undisclosed location after the original site has been destroyed by a deliberate Russian airstrike on 27th April 2016 where hospital staff work daily surrounded by dead bodies, blood and injured civilians.  The disastrous humanitarian situation in Aleppd, and feeling helpless, led the doctor to file a suit against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights. Various European activists suggested that he launches a legal case against Russia for violating his and the patients’ human rights.

Awad’s case lodged with the European Court has been sent to the foreign ministries of the UK, France, U.S. and other European countries. It has also been provided to all relevant U.N. bodies and special rapporteurs.  British solicitor and human rights activist Gareth Peirce is representing Awad as well as Sajida Malik.

A press release said,  “Dr. Al-Awad’s case against Russia is brought to life not only on the basis of its violation of his right, and that of his patients (Article 2 of The Convention), but Article 3 as well – that its actions inflict inhuman and degrading treatment is unarguable.” Awad said that he doesn’t expect for this lawsuit to change the course of the Syrian crisis, but it will expose Russia’s violations.

Testimony from the  U.N. Chief Humanitarian Official, Stephen O’Brien, states that on 29th September, describing the circumstances in Aleppo, O’Brien said, “Let me be clear, east Aleppo this minute is not at the edge of the precipice, it is well into its terrible descent into the pitiless and merciless abyss of a human catastrophe unlike any we have witnessed in Syria. Syria is bleeding. Its citizens are dying. We all hear their cry for help”.