Libya sentences medics to firing squad for deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV

Reuters ^

[Happy2BMe]

Libya sentences medics to firing squad
Thu 6 May, 2004 12:34

By Salah Sarrar

BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - A Libyan court has sentenced six Bulgarian medics and a Palestinian doctor to death by firing squad for deliberately infecting hundreds of Libyan children with the deadly HIV virus, court officials say.

Bulgaria condemned the "unfair and absurd" verdicts and called for a strong reaction from its Western partners -- the European Union, NATO and the United States.

Defence lawyers said they would appeal the sentences. The medics had pleaded not guilty, insisting they were not to blame for the epidemic.

Scores of relatives of the HIV-infected children took to the streets near the court building in a joyful display.

The health workers, detained in early 1999, were convicted of infecting 426 Libyan children at a Benghazi hospital with blood products contaminated with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Bulgarians had expected some leniency after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's recent efforts to renew ties with the West.

"I'm shocked by the verdicts. The government's official position is that we're not going to accept them. Such verdicts are unfair and without grounds," Bulgarian Justice Minister Anton Stankov said in Sofia.

In contrast, relatives of the infected children were happy.

"The verdict is fair. What they did is a crime against humanity. They planted a bomb inside our children," said Ramdane Ali Mohamed, whose little sister Hiba died of AIDS.

More than 40 of the children have died since 1999, adding to already heated emotions in both countries over the case.

The issue gained greater attention in recent weeks as Libya emerged from international isolation after scrapping its nuclear and chemical arms programme in December.

"We expect a strong reaction from all our partners, especially the European Union, the United States and NATO, who have all put forth efforts to ensure a fair trial," Stankov said.

Families of the medics were stunned and were not willing to talk to the media. But Parliament Speaker Ognyan Gerdzhikov said he was confident the death sentences would not be carried out.

"First, they can be appealed. Secondly, Libya has not executed death sentences in nine years, and I'd be very surprised if they start now. Thirdly, I expect Gaddafi to act like a humanist to win certain political credit, which he needs from world public opinion," he told national radio.

"ABSURD" VERDICT

The dispute with EU candidate Bulgaria was raised during Gaddafi's ground-breaking visit to the EU last week. European Commission President Romano Prodi said then he hoped a "quick and fair settlement" could be found.

Bulgarian media had speculated that if the Bulgarians were sentenced to death, Gaddafi might pardon them as part of his efforts to improve relations with Europe.

"It a shocking verdict. My clients expected to be convicted for dereliction of duty and sentenced to prison terms not death," defence lawyer Othmane Bizanti told Reuters, adding that the defendants had 60 days to lodge an appeal.

Last year Luc Montagnier, the French doctor credited with first discovering the HIV virus, said the epidemic emerged in the hospital in 1997, a year before the medics arrived, probably due to unsanitary conditions.

"Libyan authorities did not want to reach the truth about the epidemic, and I continue to stress that the Bulgarians are not to blame," Stankov said.

[Happy2BMe]

"Bulgaria condemned the "unfair and absurd" verdicts and called for a strong reaction from its Western partners -- the European Union, NATO and the United States."

How many Bulgarians are fighting with us in Iraq?

[TheBattman]

Better yet - I would sure like to see some facts in this case. It sounds as if these Bulgarians are accused of INTENTIONALLY infecting over 400 children. If they actually, knowingly, and intentionally did such an act - then I have no problem with the verdict and penalty.

On the other hand - if these medical workers were just using the blood supply given to them by the Lybian government - and either had to use that blood, or didn't know that the blood was tainted, then there is no case and this is just a sham.

I just haven't seen enough facts to know in my mind what the real story is. I certainly HOPE that these folks didn't intentionally murder these kids with the Virus....

[Buffalo Bob]

Start doing this for pedophiles and watch such crimes diminish to near zero!

[Atlantic Friend]

Wow, just like Stalin in 1952, when he accused Jewish doctors to have intentionnally killed Soviet officials and trying to undermine the health of the Soviet Union...

[azhenfud]

"Last year Luc Montagnier, the French doctor credited with first discovering the HIV virus, said the epidemic emerged in the hospital in 1997, a year before the medics arrived, probably due to unsanitary conditions."

There's your answer.

[VadeRetro]

How many Bulgarians are fighting with us in Iraq?

This should not be the question. What the article fails to say is what the doctors are alleged to have known and when, and what sort of hearing they got.

[ChadGore]

Wasn't this the same country in charge of UN human rights ?

[Happy2BMe]

I certainly don't want to see innocent people die just to cover up Liyian government blunders.

The thing that gets me about this though is how Bulgaria is demanding we come to their aid in the international arena.

I don't know how many troops Bulgaria has in Iraq, but it must be enough for this:

===================================

Bush Thanks Bulgaria for Iraq Support

Politics: 16 April 2004, Friday.
George Bush sent a letter of thanks to his Bulgarian counterpart, for support to the US in Iraq.

Despite attacks on its troops, Bulgaria proved to be a coalition mainstay. Meanwhile, families of some soldiers stationed in Iraq pressed the government for a retreat from the front lines. They even met with President Parvanov and insisted for the Bulgarian camp to be relocated, due to aggravating violence in Karbala.

Parvanov promised maximum safety for the unit until the mission is completed.

More HERE.

[patriot_wes]

"Thirdly, I expect Gaddafi to act like a humanist to win certain political credit, which he needs from world public opinion," he told national radio.

oh great.

[Happy2BMe]

The U.N. is just full of these little gems . .

U.N. Votes to Keep Sudan on Commission (US walks out )
			Posted by Happy2BMe to TrueBeliever9; dennisw; MeekOneGOP; devolve On News/Activism 05/05/2004 10:53:50 AM PDT #18 of 40 "UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United States walked out of a U.N. meeting Tuesday to protest its decision minutes later to give Sudan a third term on the Human Rights Commission, the world body's human rights watchdog."

[lizma]

probably due to unsanitary conditions.

Huh? AIDS isn't spread by what one would normally think of as "unsanitary conditions", the kind of conditions that would spread cholera or T.B. And if their blood supply was that contaminated, you would also see a corresponding jump in the adult population.

But who knows about the French. Maybe the rape of children is on their list of "unsanitary conditions".

[VadeRetro]

Huh? AIDS isn't spread by what one would normally think of as "unsanitary conditions", the kind of conditions that would spread cholera or T.B.

The handling of anything contaminated with bodily fluids of patients (especially used needles and other "sharps") has changed drastically in this country since the appearance of AIDS in the early 80s. Even so, accidental infections have not been totally eliminated. It's easy to imagine that things were less than ideal some years ago in Libya.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

"Unsanitary conditions" I read to mean the reusing of needles.

[lizma]

If reusing needles was the problem, wouldn't they see this increase in adults too?

[Born Conservative]

Ping

[azhenfud]

VR:

I'm glad I saw your post - I was about to chime in along the same line.

I witnessed a "doctor" in China, covered in white with his little "sanitary" mask, examine seven patients - never once did he change latex gloves, and used the same instrument to examine ears without ever changing the cover between patients.

"Sanitary" means different things in varying parts of the world, and yes, HIV is also spread by contact of bodily fluids not properly contained or medical equipment not properly disinfected. That's proven by infections related to shared needles..

[Ashamed Canadian]

Several Hundred Bulgarians are fighting with you in Iraq.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

If it is true that they did this deliberately then they should be shot. But the story leaves out their motive. Why would they do this?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

If reusing needles was the problem, wouldn't they see this increase in adults too?

1. We do not know that there hasn't been infections of adults.
2. We do not know from this information if the Bulgarians were treating adults.
3. If there were an increase in adult infection, and adults were being treated only by other Muslims, would you as a Muslim lawyer mention that in the courtroom of a Muslim dictatorship?

[swarthyguy]

If this was intentional, then bully for the Libyans.

Nothing less would be appropriate for this despicable stunt..