LIBYA: UN Rights Office Urges Libya to Halt AIDS Trial Death Sentences

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

LIBYA: UN Rights Office Urges Libya to Halt AIDS Trial Death Sentences

Agence France Presse (12.19.06) - Wednesday, December 20, 2006

On Tuesday, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour called on Libya not to execute six foreign medical workers condemned for allegedly transmitting HIV to children who were their patients at the Al-Fateh hospital. "The circumstances surrounding the application of the death penalty in this case could constitute a violation of international human rights law," said Jose Diaz, spokesperson. "There are some very serious concerns about the fairness of the trial," he said. "There are reports that information was extracted through torture. There are also reports that evidence that the defense would have wanted to introduce was not admitted." Diaz expressed "hope that any errors that could have been committed can be rectified. In any case, we urge the authorities not carry out the death sentences, even if they are affirmed on appeal." The case will be appealed within 60 days, said Othman Bizanti, the medics' defense attorney.
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