Military confrontations in many parts of the world raise concerns regarding the treatment of prisoners of war. Whilst the regime of prisoners of war under international law is clearly codified in the 1949 Geneva Convention relating to the treatment of prisoners of war, questions arise, particularly from western thinkers, regarding their treatment under Islamic law. This thesis attempts to fill this gap in the literature. The legal status of prisoners of war as presented in the Quran and Sunna and interpreted by prominent Islamic scholars is analysed and compared with the Geneva Convention provision is examined.The discussion begins in Chapter One with an examination of the context in which the issue of prisoner of war status arises. The concept and legitimacy of war are discussed and the rules of war, as well as relations between Islamic and non-Islamic States areexamined. In Chapter Two, the definition of the term 'prisoners of war' in each legal system is examined, and the classes of people excluded from the definition areconsidered. Chapter Three investigates the legal status of prisoners of war from the moment of capture, with reference to the coercion of prisoners of war to reveal military secrets protection inside the camps, the labour and financial status of prisoners of war,and the right to food and clothing, to communication with the outside world, to medical attention and to freedom of religious practice. There follows in Chapter Four a discussion of the ways in which capture may be terminated.The thesis shows that Islam provides for the just and humane treatment of prisoners of war and its rules are in general consistent with the provisions of international law. There are, however, some differences, such as the Islamic provision on enslavement attributable to differences in historical context. Such discrepancies however, have either been removed by changing custom, or can be resolved by analogy and by application of the general rules of just and humane treatment. There is, therefore, no reason why an Islamic country should not conform with the generally accepted principles of international law on the treatment of prisoners of war.

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes significant morbidity and mortality. An understanding of the factors associated with both acquisition and clearance of HCV infection is critical to prevention strategies including vaccine development. Although research in the prison environment is logistically challenging, inmates are a premier risk group. Accordingly, a prospective cohort study of prisoners with monthly sampling for HCV viraemia was undertaken to assess the incidence of, and risk factors for, infection; and to assess the natural history of infection when detected by viraemia. The incidence of infection was 8 per 100 person years, with the incidence of "high risk" and "possible" HCV transmission risk events being 61 and 210 per 100 person years respectively. The first case of HCV infection in prison with tattooing as the probable route of acquisition was reported. A novel phenotype of HCV infection with HCV viraemia and subsequent clearance without the development of symptoms, biochemical hepatitis or seroconversion on HCV specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA), despite more than one year of follow-up, was reported. HCV-specific cell mediated immune responses were detected in the subjects analysed. These subjects also had indeterminate HCV serological responses directed against non-structural proteins detected on a recombinant immunob10t assay (RIBA) that were stable over time and typically predated HCV viraemia. The prevalence of such responses ranged from 29-79% in other relevant cohorts, including injecting drug users (IDUs) and multiply-transfused patients with thalassaemia. The antibody response against the non-structural protein, NS5 was the most reproducible. This reactivity was blocked in 57% of subjects when sera were pre-incubated with recombinant HCV proteins, suggesting HCV-specificity. A case-control study was undertaken to examine whether such responses predicted protection from "classical" HCV infection with EIA seroconversion. Cases that developed HCV viraemia and EIA seroconversion were more likely to have these responses at baseline (when aviraemic) than controls, demonstrating that they do not protect against acute infection. However, the rate of viral clearance in subjects with indeterminate RIBA responses that subsequently developed acute infection and were followed for viral clearance was high (88%), suggesting that such subjects have immune responses that are associated with viral clearance.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2008. / Vita: p. 161. Thesis director: Stephen S. Fuller. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jan. 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 156-160). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iii, 60 p. : col. ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-54).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Michigan, 1995. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Neil Foley. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI company.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2010. / Typescript (photocopy). Research supervisors: Dr. Steve Dakin, Dr. Simon Kemp. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-82). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2006. / Thesis advisor: Damon Mitchell. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Criminology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 28-31). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Th. doct. 3e cycle. / Bibliogr. p. 287-298.