This week I was in the
#UK to follow up on complaints and meet with the Government and
#EnvironmentalDefenders who submitted complaints to my mandate.
Among these complainants was Dr. Patrick Hart, whom I visited in prison on Wednesday. This is where he spent the last three months of his life.
Dr. Hart is a medical doctor who has been convicted for peaceful environmental protest (#BMA). He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and risks loosing his medical licence that has already been suspended. More information on this complaint: see ACSR/C/2024/53 here
tinyurl.tools/e3e598efhttps://tinyurl.tools/e3e598ef
To say the least, I am extremely concerned by the treatment of Dr. Hart. These concerns include:
1. The 12 months immediate prison sentence he received, for participating in peaceful environmental protest
2. The denial of his release from prison on license, without justification. While Dr. Hart should have been released from prison to serve the rest of his sentence at home, this was denied without a fully reasoned decision and as of today is still maintained in prison.
3. The suspension of his medical license and the ongoing fitness to practice proceedings before the General Medical Council that could ultimately result in the loss of his license.
4. The double punishment he is subjected to, being punished both before the national courts and before the medical practitioners tribunal of the
#GMC.
5. Finally, on the day following my visit, Dr. Hart was transferred, without any notice, to another prison located 6 hours away from his family & friends. This obviously makes it extremely difficult for his loved ones to visit him, adding a new dimension to the punitive treatment he faces.
As I am leaving the UK today, I will continue to follow Dr. Hart’s case closely and to urge the UK Government to ensure his immediate release from prison and the termination of the fitness to practice proceedings against him.
Thank you for meeting with my friend Dr Patrick Hart and exposing the injustice of his incarceration. He is a great doctor and lovely person who cares about the health and future of his patients and the planet.
This is absolutely appalling. Environmental defenders and all who protest peacefully for human rights should never be treated as criminals.
A brave and visionary man
