Ann Somerville: Doctors and the fight for human rights

From a speech by the BMA's Head of Medical Ethics, at Queen Mary College, University of London

The British Medical Association has particular interest in human rights issues affecting doctors and health. In relation to Iraq, the BMA campaigned equally against sanctions on medical supplies as against Iraq's forcible involvement of health professionals in torture.

What would be impressive about the Government's present interest in gross violations of human rights would be if it took equally seriously the record of its potential allies, some of whom have well-documented skeletons in the closet. The Syrian President, Bashar Assad, for example, is visiting Britain this month. Syria practises arbitrary arrest, unfair trials, political detention and torture, and so perhaps these will be on the agenda?

Turkey is another potential ally willing, it seems, for its bases to be used in an anti-Iraq campaign. Part of the price for this is support for Turkey's bid to enter the EU, which in turn requires evidence that Turkey is improving its human rights.

Predictably perhaps, the Government is now optimistic about Turkey's reforms despite noting "continuing credible reports of torture and ill treatment". Many Turkish doctors are also anxious about the "F" type prisons being built. This is not so much a concern about prison design as about the mentality that has long fostered abuse combined with changes that potentially make it harder to detect.

A veteran campaigner, Dr Veli Lok, is banned from public speaking by a five-year gagging order and a psychiatrist, Alp Ayan, goes on trial again in Izmir on 30 December for his human rights activities.

Britain supports Turkey's candidacy and wants dialogue with Syria, but in the interests of balance, let us hope our Government is not ignoring the bigger human rights picture.