An unprecedented surge of citizen activism demanding the release of famed Indian pediatrician, Binayak Sen, culminated last Thursday when people from around the world held vigils in his honor. Physicians for Human Rights has worked for Dr. Sen’s release ever since government authorities arrested him on bogus charges of sedition on May 14, 2007.? PHR Deputy Director Susannah Sirkin, who has visited Christian Medical College where Dr. Sen trained in India – spoke at the Harvard Square vigil saying,
Treating the poor is not a crime.
PHR member Shiv Pillay, MD, an oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and friend of Dr. Sen while in medical school, also spoke passionately about the injustice of his detention.Last year Dr. Sen was awarded the prestigious Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights, which his wife Ilina Sen, accepted on his behalf in Washington, DC. PHR will continue advocating for Dr. Sen’s release at this year’s International Global Health Conference where the annual Jonathan Mann Prize will be awarded.