Fathi Eljahmi

Fathi Eljahmi is an imprisoned Libyan, who is considered Libya's "most prominent democratic dissident"cite web |url=http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/rosett090607.htm |title=Gadhafi gets more than he deserves |accessdate=2008-08-23] and has received significant international attention. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/15/AR2006111501576_pf.html Support Builds for Libyan Dissident] , by Nora Boustany, Washington Post, Nov 16, 2006] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/27/international/africa/27libya.html?_r=1&n=Top%2FNews%2FWorld%2FCountries%20and%20Territories%2FLibya&oref=slogin For a Critic, Libya's Nascent Openness Doesn't Apply] , by Craig S. Smith, New York Times, Dec 27, 2004] [ [http://www.meforum.org/article/681 Dissident Watch: Fathi El-Jahmi] , The Middle East Quarterly, vol XI, number 4, Fall 2004] [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4975084.stm Trial fears for Libyan dissident] , BBC News, May 5, 2006]

He was arrested in October 2002 and sentenced to five years in prison for stating at a 'People's Conference' in Tripoli that reform in Libya would require a constitution, free speech and democracy. [ [http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=110004857 Are We Keeping Faith? Meet Fathi Eljahmi, a Libyan freedom-fighter] , by Claudia Rosett, Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2004] . He was briefly released that month at the request of Senator Joe Biden, and then re-imprisoned after calling for democratization of Libya in a television interview. In early 2004 he, his wife, and his eldest son were taken into custody. [ [http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=110004917 Dial a Dissident:Why won't Gadhafi let Fathi Eljahmi answer his phone?] , by Claudia Rosett, Wall Street Journal, April 7, 2004] [ [http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/cRosett/?id=110006820 Will Anyone Answer? "Tell them we are ready for democracy": a Libyan dissident's message to Washington] , by Claudia Rosett, Wall Street Journal, June 15, 2005] The Libyan government claimed that Eljahmi was put on trial in late 2005, accused of the capital charges of "trying to overthrow the government, insulting Col. Gaddafi and contacting foreign authorities, after he talked to a US diplomat." During her visit to Libya, the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly pleaded for Eljahmi's release from solitary detention. [cite_news|title=Libya rejects US prisoner plea|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/libya-rejects-us-prisoner-plea-921717.html|publisher=The Independent|date=2008-09-09|author=John Phillips] Eljahmi currently remains imprisoned.

References

External links

* [http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGMDE190172004 Amnesty international report.]
* [http://www.meforum.org/article/681 Dissident Watch: Fathi El-Jahmi] , "Middle East Quarterly", meet the man Mu'ammar al-Gadhafi doesn't want anyone to meet.
* [http://www.freefathieljahmi.blogspot.com/ Free Fathi El Jahmi Petition]
* [http://www.defenddemocracy.org/archive/archive_newsletter.htm?issue_id=1343 Weekly Update] , Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Nov 9, 2004