HIV Trial in Libya - Libyan HIV Victims

Libyan HIV Victims

Well over 400 children were infected with HIV at the El-Fatih Children's Hospital. Some are receiving treatment in Europe. The death toll so far has surpassed 50. Parents and relatives of the children protested, and demanded death penalties to be carried out. Libyan prime minister, Shukri Ghanem, insisted that the outcome of the trial was entirely a "judicial" matter. In a statement broadcast on Al Jazeera, Mr. Ghanem said that all efforts should now be focused on the infected children, "who are subject to a death sentence each day." The families of the infected children also demanded compensation for the actions taken by the convicted medics; figures of up to $10 million per family were mentioned. In July 2007, Libya announced a settlement had been reached, with $400 million going to the 426 victims' families in exchange for conversion of the nurses' sentences from death to life in prison.