Well, this is better news than it could have been.
The death sentences on foreign medics convicted of infecting Libyan children with HIV have been commuted to life in prison, a Libyan official has said.
Relatives of the 438 children had earlier dropped their demand for the death penalty, after accepting compensation worth $1m per child.
Libya’s High Judicial Council is expected to confirm the new sentences.
Justice has been done! Except, of course, for the fact that they’re still in prison for life, despite being totally innocent.
There’s a lot of good resources on that Wikipedia page for continued action.
Update: Cruella in comments highlights another important action item. Fuck Big Pharma, man.
10 Responses to “Um…yay?”
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This is very good news. The effort to free them can continue without fear Libya would end it by killing them.
Yikes!
From the article, it seems like they may be extradited. Still I’m wondering what sort of trial, what sort of proof could possible have led to this outcome.
The Wikipedia site has all the information you could want and more.
What a travesty! A corrupt, insane trial and torture too.
What a travesty! A corrupt, insane trial and torture too.
Although, alas, we are no longer in a position in which we are entitled to feel righteous about such things–if, indeed, we ever were . . .
There is still plenty more injustice out there. And some of it you can at least try to do something about.
Apparently the Libyan government is trying to extort loan forgiveness with the lives of these people, who came there to help suffering Libyans. How despicable.
Why? Torture is wrong no matter who you are. Even the Libyans can call us out on Abu Ghraib.So ultimately it was about the money?
Justice has been done! Except, of course, for the fact that they’re still in prison for life, despite being totally innocent.
That and the fact that it’s been proven this is an effective way of sticking up Western governments for $438 million, a sizable fraction of which I presume will pass through the hands of the Libyan government functionaries who brokered the deal.
Difference between the US and other countries: when we decide to execute an innocent person, no amount of money or international outcry will change our minds…