An Open Letter to Amnesty International re: Fathi El Jahmi

By Jacob Mundy | 31 May 2009

Fathi El-Jahmi was a leading Libyan dissident activist who died on 21 May in a hospital in Amman, Jordan. In 2002, Jahmi was imprisoned by Libyan authorities for calling for more political freedoms. Though released in 2004 because of foreign pressure on the Qadhdhafi regime, he was quickly re-captured soon after for speaking to Voice of America. Given his age and pre-existing health conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, and a heart condition), Jahmi’s solitary confinement degraded his health.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organizations visited Jahmi in February 2007. Concluding that he had only received “sporadic and inadequate medical treatment” from the Libyan authorites, they noted that he was still “suffering from several chronic and mutually adverse conditions (diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease) that are independently life threatening and difficult to control.”

Two weeks before his death, Jahmi was flown to Amman for medical treatment.

While Fathi was dying in Amman, a delegation from Amnesty was in Libya.

Amnesty’s response to Jahmi’s prolonged execution was pathetically mild: “Amnesty International is still seeking clarification from the Libyan authorities as to the circumstances in which Fathi el-Jahmi, who was a prisoner of conscience, became seriously ill and was transferred to Jordan”.

Fathi’s brother, Moahmed, penned an open letter (below), which suggests that Amnesty prized access to Libya over protecting Fathi.

Mohamed’s anger is understandable and justified.

Dear Ms. Khan,

It is important for Fathi Eljahmi that I make this email public. This is not about grandstanding, it is about honoring my brother’s memory and telling the entire world that I condemn Amnesty’s attitude about Fathi’s death.

Last year in Crystal City, I listened to your powerful speech, where you talked about standing up for marginalized and oppressed people. Today, I am sad to tell your organization’s credibility has suffered, because your team that had concluded a visit to Libya has betrayed my brother. Instead of holding the Libyan regime accountable for murdering Fathi. It gently asked Mr. Qadhafi’s regime to consider explaining the circumstances of Fathi’s death to his family, the report said, “The precise cause of his death, and the circumstances in which he became seriously ill while detained at the Tripoli Medical Centre, where he had been held since July 2007, should be clarified at the very least to Fathi el-Jahmi’s family members”

Ms. Khan, is Amnesty serious or playing dumb with such request?

Your organization received independent confirmation that Fathi was in very bad condition. While Fathi was in Jordan Amnesty and other organizations were denied access to Fathi. Qadhafi’s regime has consistently objected to releasing Fathi’s medical record, why would it consider Amnesty’s gentle request now?. For many months, the Qadhafi regime kept your organization neutralized – you couldn’t issue a press release because the regime was holding the access carrot in front of your eyes. You got your access and betrayed Fathi. Two days ago, Diana Al-Tahawy, who is part of your Libya team told me on the phone, “This case [Fathi’s] has received so much attention and there are thousands of political prisoners whom we don’t speak for.” Despite her comment, I was polite and courteous with Ms. Tahawy. She now, has her wish, I hope she can help Amnesty put its credibility back to fight for political prisoners. I talked to Ms. Tahawy twice in two days. She initiated the first phone call. I answered all her questions. I should have saved my breath.

With this report, Amnesty has been tamed by Libyan Security and perhaps will get access in the future. The price you paid? You plead to Fathi’s killers to be good. Pathetic!

I wish your organization best of luck. From here on, it gives me no honor to work with an organization that takes my brother’s death in vain.

Mohamed El Jahmi
[brother of Fathi El Jahmi, Amnesty Prisoner of Conscience]