July 21, 2007

Colonel Mu'ammar al-Kaddafi,

Leader of the Revolution,

Office of the Leader of the Revolution,

Tripoli, Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.                                          

Sir,

We, the Board of Management and Executive Committee of JANANEETHI together with its office staff and collaborators are very happy over and welcome the decision of the Supreme Council of Judicial Authorities of Libya to commute the death penalty of five Bulgarian nurses namely Ms. Christiana Vulcheva, Ms. Nassya Nenova, Ms. Valenitina Siropulo, Ms. Valya Chervenyashka, Ms. Snejana Dimitrova, and one Palestinian doctor, Mr. Ashraf al-Hajuj on 17 July 2007.  We place on record our appreciation to the members of the Supreme Council who, of course, upheld the noble and profound ethical values of a civilised humanity in this regard.

We also understand that they had been in prison since 1999 and under sentence of death since 2004 following unfair trials, for allegedly infecting hundreds of children with HIV.

According to information gathered from reliable sources, all the accused had complained that during the initial stage of detention they had been subjected to torture and inhuman treatment. The forms of torture to which they had been subjected to include among other things electrocution, beating with electrical wire, being kept naked and crucified for lengthy periods of time, being beaten on the soles of the feet, being drugged, the use of fire and ice-cold showers, being held in over-crowded cells, being blinded by bright lights and being intimidated and bitten by police dogs.

Further more, they were at first detained for about 10 months without having access to their families. They were allowed access to a defence lawyer only after trail proceedings had begun. In mid-May 2000 the Libyan defence lawyer for the Bulgarian defendants, Osman Bizanti, who was hired by the Bulgarian Embassy, told the media that he had met his clients only on two occasions.

In the circumstances, we ardently request you, Sir, to make use of your office for the adequate protection and safety of the five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor in the prison in Libya. Please issue appropriate orders that their physical and mental health is well attended and no cruel and inhuman treatment is inflicted on them and further that all international norms and standards are strictly adhered to during the pendency of their punishment.

Soliciting your urgent action,

For and on behalf of Jananeethi Family,

George Pulikuthiyil, Executive Director

July 21, 2007 at Thrissur, Kerala, India.