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Tripoli Six Freed!
Jul. 24th, 2007 07:00 pmIn case you have forgotten, these are five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who were tried, convicted and sentenced to death for intentionally infecting 438 children in their care with HIV, despite the fact that DNA evidence demonstrated that the epidemic was already in full swing before they arrived at the hospital. Since then 56 ofthe children have died.
Their sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment, and now they have been pardoned.
The six were imprisoned for 8 years, and subjected to torture.
Their release is the result of negotiations betweent the EU and Libya. There is however some confusion as to whether there was a financial aspect to this. France is claiming that there was no deal involved, whereas Libya is reporting that compensation of up to £500,000 per child was paid to the families, channelled through "The Gaddafi Foundation". Bulgaria says that the case was the result of Libya attempting to deflect attention from its collapsing health service, which seems to have ultimately been to blame for the infections.
Personally I hope that money has not changed hands over this. While I sympathise with the families of the victims, compensation from the EU smacks of admitting culpability and buying the six's freedom. On the other hand if the EU had given £219M to Libya to help sort out it's health service then that's something I can support with fewer qualms.
But whatever my opinions on the matter they're free, and back in Bulgaria. (The doctor has been awarded Bulgarian nationality, to benefit from any transfer deal that might have been done).
Their sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment, and now they have been pardoned.
The six were imprisoned for 8 years, and subjected to torture.
Their release is the result of negotiations betweent the EU and Libya. There is however some confusion as to whether there was a financial aspect to this. France is claiming that there was no deal involved, whereas Libya is reporting that compensation of up to £500,000 per child was paid to the families, channelled through "The Gaddafi Foundation". Bulgaria says that the case was the result of Libya attempting to deflect attention from its collapsing health service, which seems to have ultimately been to blame for the infections.
Personally I hope that money has not changed hands over this. While I sympathise with the families of the victims, compensation from the EU smacks of admitting culpability and buying the six's freedom. On the other hand if the EU had given £219M to Libya to help sort out it's health service then that's something I can support with fewer qualms.
But whatever my opinions on the matter they're free, and back in Bulgaria. (The doctor has been awarded Bulgarian nationality, to benefit from any transfer deal that might have been done).
