Ashraf Al Hajuj
Ashraf Ahmad Al-Hajuj (also spelled Ashraf Jumaa El Hagoug)
The first trial against them began in February 2000. They were accused of deliberately infecting the children with HIV, conspiracy and adultery. The nurses and Al-Hajuj had stated that their confessions were extracted under torture they were subjected to during their first year of detention.[3]
In May 2004 they were
In December 2005, the Libyan court commuted the sentence and ordered a new trial. On December 19, 2006 the defendants were again sentenced to death.
On 11 July 2007, the Supreme Court of Libya confirmed the death sentences. Later the Supreme Court changed its verdict to life sentences. On 24 July 2007, after negotiation with the French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the Bulgarian nurses and Al-Hajuj (who received Bulgarian citizenship in June 2007 from the Bulgarian president Georgi Parvanov so they could be deported to Bulgaria), were released by Muammar Gaddafi according to the protocol of prisoners exchange.[5] President Parvanov, convinced of their innocence, pardoned them by decree.[6] Abdul-Rahman Shalqam, the Libyan foreign minister, said Parvanov had the right to pardon the medics.[7]
After being released in 2007, Al-Hajuj attempted to settle down in Bulgaria and married a Bulgarian woman.[8] They had a son named Rayan, born in Bulgaria.[9] The marriage was brief and shortly afterwards Ashraf Al-Hajuj moved to the Netherlands, where his parents had found political asylum in 2005.[10]
In 2010 he published, in the Netherlands, a book about his suffering in Libyan prison, named Khaddafi's scapegoat (Dutch: Khaddafi's zondebok).
After his release from the Libyan prison, Al-Hajuj announced his intention to sue Libya for his illegal detention, sadistic torture and inhumane conditions of confinement during his visit to
In March 2012 the Dutch court ruled in his favor in his lawsuit against twelve Libyan officials for torture and awarded him 1 million Euros for material and immaterial damages which are the result of inhumane treatment and torture.[15] A few weeks after the decision of the Dutch court, the UN Human Rights Committee also ruled in favor of Doctor Al-Hajuj and found that Libya had violated his rights (Articles 7, 9 and 14 International Covenant on Civil and Political rights). According to the UN resolution, Libya ought to compensate Al-Hajuj for his incommunicado detention, inhumane treatment and torture and initiate criminal prosecution against those responsible for those violations.[16]
In July 2012 in Varna, Bulgaria, Al-Hajuj married his Ukrainian girlfriend after a four-year relationship; they resided in the Netherlands. [17]
See also
References
- ^ "Kapital Quarterly". Sofiaecho.com. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Сватосване - Жени се на 39, чака бебе на 40 - Стандарт". Paper.standartnews.com. 1969-10-25. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Special Reports | In quotes: Reaction to Libya HIV trial verdict". BBC News. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ "Africa | Libya sentences medics to death". BBC News. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ Dutch court compensates Palestinian for Libya jail, BBC News, 28 March 2012
- ^ BULGARIAN MEDICS PARDONED, The Sofia Echo, July 24, 2007
- ^ Bulgaria pardons freed medics, Aljazeera, July 25, 2007
- ^ Palestinian Doctor Ashraf Marries Bulgarian Wife for 2nd Time "Novinite", December 2, 2007
- ^ Ашраф стана баща, кръсти сина си Раян, Vesti.bg, May 6, 2008
- ^ Doctor in Libyan HIV trial now languishes in Dutch town, NRC, March 27, 2012
- ^ Palestinian Doctor Calls For Libyan Investigation, Reuters, August 5, 2007
- ^ Durban II Dispatch: Libya On Trial, "The New Republic", April 19, 2009
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Palestinian Doctor, Libyan Torture Victim Testifies at UNHRC - UN Watch". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
- ^ Palestinian doctor gets compensation after eight years in Libyan jail, "Al Arabiya News", March 27, 2012
- ^ "Human Rights Committee holds Libya responsible for treatment of Bulgarian national | SHARES". Sharesproject.nl. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
- ^ Палестинският лекар Ашраф ал-Хаджудж Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, "Vseki Den", August 6, 2012