IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 733
Calling on the Government of Libya to review the legal actions taken against 
several Bulgarian medical workers. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 20, 2004
Mr. BEREUTER (for himself, Mr. WEXLER, and Mr. WILSON of South Caro-
lina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Calling on the Government of Libya to review the legal 
actions taken against several Bulgarian medical workers.
Whereas on February 9, 1999, Libyan authorities detained a 
group of Bulgarian medical workers stationed at the Al-
Fatih hospital in Benghazi; 
Whereas in March 1999, Libyan authorities notified the Gov-
ernment of Bulgaria that 5 members of the group of 
medical workers were being detained on a warrant accus-
ing the medical workers of participating in a foreign in-
telligence-supported conspiracy against Libya by infecting 
over 400 Libyan children at the Al-Fatih hospital with 
blood products contaminated with the human immuno-
deficiency virus (HIV);
•HRES 733 IH 
Whereas in February 2002, after a period of investigation, 
the Libyan People’s Court decided that there was not 
enough evidence to substantiate the accusations of con-
spiracy against Libya and dismissed the case referring it 
back to the criminal court in Benghazi where the medical 
workers were prosecuted for deliberately causing HIV in-
fections of the children; 
Whereas throughout the lengthy trial, which was marked by 
accusations of irregularities and gross violations of Liby-
an law on the part of the prosecution and the court itself, 
numerous experts in the area of HIV/AIDS testified that 
there was inadequate and inconsistent evidence offered to 
affirm that the children were deliberately infected by the 
medical workers; 
Whereas on May 6, 2004, the criminal court found the 5 Bul-
garian medical workers guilty of deliberately infecting the 
Libyan children with HIV and sentenced them to death 
by firing squad; 
Whereas the United States Government, the European 
Union, and the Council of Europe have all expressed deep 
concerns with respect to the conduct of the investigation 
and trial of the medical workers and the lack of compel-
ling evidence to suggest that the defendants had any in-
volvement in the HIV epidemic; and 
Whereas in the process of developing bilateral relations with 
the Government of Libya, the treatment of United States 
citizens and foreign nationals living or working in Libya, 
and in particular the resolution of the matter involving 
the Bulgarian medical workers, should be a factor in con-
sidering further improvements in United States-Libyan 
relations: Now, therefore, be it
•HRES 733 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) expresses its sympathies for those Libyan 
children infected with the human immunodeficiency 
virus (HIV) and its condolences to the families of 
those children who have died from the acquired im-
mune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); 
(2) raises serious concerns regarding the con-
duct and fairness of the investigations and trial and 
the lack of compelling evidence regarding the allega-
tions of criminal intent on the part of the Bulgarian 
medical workers; 
(3) expresses its deep dismay over the recent 
verdict by the Libyan court and the harsh sentence 
imposed on the Bulgarian medical workers and 
urges the Government of Libya to review the case, 
reconsider the verdict, and consider the possibility of 
withdrawing the charges and releasing the defend-
ants; and 
(4) affirms the support of the United States for 
the Government of Bulgaria and its efforts to reach 
a just and final resolution of this matter.
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