Hezbollah pictures in public building criticised

Manama: A lawmaker has criticised tolerance towards display of pictures of Hezbollah's leaders at a ministry building.

Salafist Independent MP Shaikh Jasem Al Saidi told Gulf News yesterday many employees of the Ministry of Health put such pictures on the walls without fear of action against them.

"Patients and their relatives are forced to see photographs of those leaders in different parts of the state-run Salmaniya Medical Hospital (SMC), and foreigners might wonder if they are in Bahrain or South Lebanon."

Al Saidi said he discussed the matter over the last five years with the previous two ministers of health and the current one, but the issue remains, despite complaints by members of the public.

Doubts over sincerity

"Many hate hospitals and only go for treatment when they are forced to, and when they see the photos they start to have their doubts over the sincerity of the medical teams that will treat them," he said.

Al Saidi asked senior officials at the ministry to react to the matter as it was unjustified to have photographs of leaders of other countries in public hospitals.

"Not taking action against this issue would promote sectarianism and threaten people's trust of public health services," he warned. "When patients see such photographs they become worried that they will not receive the right treatment. Government bodies should not display photographs other than those of Bahrain's leaders."

Photographs of Hezbollah's leaders are commonly seen on walls and on top of houses in villages, as well as the yellow flag of the Lebanese opposition political movement.

The Ministry of Health's media specialist Mariam Manaseer told Gulf News the issue was referred to the minister's officer and legal advisor for action.