Ashraf Al Hajuj
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Ashraf Ahmad Djum’a al-Hadjudj: is a Palestinian-born Bulgarian medic and was the principal defendant on the HIV trial in Libya. In 1998, he left Palestina and went to Benghazi, Libya as a medic. There, he met four Bulgarian nurses ( Kristiana Vulcheva, Nasya Nenova, Valentina Siropulo and Snezhana Dimitrova). After met them, Hajuj became a great friend of the nurses. In February 1999, many Libyan children caught HIV; at least 400 and the families said that the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian medic were the responsibles of infect to their children with HIV. The Bulgarian nurses and Al Hajuj were arrested. [1]
In February 2000 began the first trial against them. They were accused for many murder and for infect to the children with HIV. The nurses and Al Hajuj had also recognized that they had been tortured by the Libyan police to confess they were guilty.[2]
In May 2004 they were sentenced to death by shooting.
In December 2005 the High Court of Libya commuted the sentence and ordered a new trial.
In May 2006 began the new trial. On December 19, the defendants were sentenced to death again.
On July 24, 2007 after a negotiation of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy Libya allowed that the Bulgarian nurses and Al Hajuj go to Bulgaria.
After being released, Al Hajuj, now in Bulgaria, became a Bulgarian citizen.[3]
