Closing Down the al-Hurani Hospital in Hama

Hama, Syria, from Annidaa correspondent - On the morning of Friday, June 8, 2008, the Syrian regime closed down al-Hurani Hospital in the City of Hama under the pretext of "incomplete documentation" of its new director. The hospital lawyers have applied for the legal documentation formality for the new director after the deportation of the ex-director, Ghazi Alyan. This action comes as one in a long series of escalation and crackdowns on the Syrians and human right act ivists in Syria. The hospital was founded by Mrs. Fida Hurani, M.D. and her husband Mr. Alyan. The Syrian regime arrested Mrs. Hurani following her election as the head of the "National Council for Democratic Change." Her husband Mr. Alyan, Palestinian, was deported out of the country after more than 20 years of living in Syria.

The Syrian regime has continued to harass and create pressure on the hospital and its daily operation on all levels especially after the refusal of Mrs. Hurani to sign a deal with the regime from her prison.

The authority had given 48 hours warning to the hospital to clear its patients and transfer intensive care patients. The hospital was closed on Friday. This step has taken the crackdown on freedom activists in Syria to new level. The regime is threatening the livelihood of the activists and their families, ignoring the needs of the community and the city of Hama for the services of the hospital and its workers. al-Hurani Hospital is a private health institution that offer all types of health services to its community including advanced operations and heart surgeries. More than sixty specialized physicians participated in its capital. The hospital has benefits of a highly regarded reputation. The hospital has won several awards for its distinguished services including the Best Hospital for 2001 from the World Health Organization.