The UN high commissioner for human rights on Thursday decried Bahrain's imposition of death sentences on anti- government protesters and the prosecution of doctors and nurses who treated those injured in clashes, dpa reported.
Navi Pillay said Bahrain has arrested "hundreds" of pro-democracy protesters, ordered 23 doctors and 24 nurses to stand military trial and sentenced to death four protesters.
Bahrain on Tuesday announced multiple charges against 47 medical personnel from a major hospital in which injured anti-government protesters were treated during recent clashes with security forces.
"The trial of civilians before military courts is always a cause of concern," Pillay said from her office in Geneva. "The application of the death sentence without due process and after a trial held in secrecy is illegal and absolutely unacceptable."
The government in Bahrain said it had detained 400 people, but the UN office on refugees said the number was more than 1,000, with the whereabouts of 50 people unknown.
Pillay called for an independent investigation of the cases of death sentence and torture. She also called for the release of all political prisoners.
