Human Rights Solidarity calls for an Independent Investigation into the death of Mr. Fathi al-Jahmi, a Libyan prisoner of conscience

Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS) calls for an independent medical investigation into the death of Mr. Fathi al-Jahmi, the Libyan prisoner of conscience who died on Thursday, 21st May 2009, in a private hospital in Amman Jordan. Mr. al-Jahmi was flown to Jordan on the 5th May 2009 after 2 days of going into a coma. LHRS calls also to investigate the prolonged detention of Mr. al-Jahmi by the Security apparatus of the Libyan regime, for over five years; the deliberate deprivation of proper medical treatment; and placing him without any cause in a psychiatric hospital, and prosecute those responsible for any wrong doing.

International human rights organizations; Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International (AI) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) repeatedly called for the release of Mr. al-Jahmi, and repeatedly warned against depriving him of very critical medical care that he needed.

PHR first visited Mr. al-Jahmi in February 2005. PHR raised its concerns about the health condition of al-Jahmi and warned against the continuation of his detention. PHR revisited Mr. al-Jahmi in March 2008, and found that his health has deteriorated very badly, specially his heart, and advised that he needed intensive medical care. The Libyan authorities knew very well the situation, and their continued detention of Mr. al-Jahmi is a criminal act that should be investigated.

Mr. al-Jahmi was an outspoken critic of the regime of Colonel Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi. He neither used violence nor called for violence. He called for dialogue and national reconciliation. He called for democracy and respect for human rights in Libya. He should have never been detained.

Human Rights Solidarity
Geneva, Switzerland

Background:

1. Physicians for Human Rights: “Medical report on Mr. al-Jahmi, March 2008” http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/documents/reports/2008-fathi-al-jahmi-evaluation.pdf
2. Human Rights Watch: “Libya: Libyan Dissident, Long Imprisoned, Is Dead”
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/05/21/libya-libyan-dissident-long-imprisoned-dead
3. Physicians for Human Rights: “PHR Calls for Investigation into Death of Libyan Dissident Fathi Al-Jahmi”  http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/news-2009-05-21.html