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STORY
UPDATE
A
New Visit
Since December 2002, James Sampson has made two
trips to Saudi Arabia to see his son, Bill Sampson.
"My greatest hope is to bring him home, but
that's in cloud coocooland. I'd like to speak to
him or at least see him."
James
Sampson kept a video diary during his time in Riyadh
from January 25th to February 1st 2003 and from
February 21st to 28th, 2003. In the video diary
James shares his frustrations and hopes for the
release of his son Bill. 
(view a clip from the video
diary).
For the last year-and-a-half, his son Bill has refused
to see visitors. He has been kept in solitary confinement
since December 2000.
On his last trip in February, James was allowed
to see Bill. He was accompanied by the Canadian
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Melvyn MacDonald and
Bill’s Saudi lawyer Dr. Ahmed Altuwaijri.
According to press reports, Bill Sampson became
agitated and began throwing objects when he saw
his father. James defends his son's actions believing
it to be a form of protest but there are many who
believe that two years in a Saudi jail has affected
Bill Sampson adversely.
The Saudi Bombings
On May 12, there were a series of large explosions
in Riyadh, which were attributed to Al-Qaeda. 35
people were killed - including nine Americans. (read
the news story)
Release Expected
On May 15, lawyers for the imprisoned men announced
that they had submitted a petition for clemency
to Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd. Three days later
there were reports indicating a favourable response.
This was confirmed by a call from the fifth estate
to one of the lawyers representing the Saudi 7.
Sampson Released
Bill Sampson was finally granted clemency by Saudi
King Fahd and released on August 8, 2003 along with
seven other co-accused.
Shortly after his released he was interviewed by
the National's Peter Mansbridge. He insisted that
he was tortured while imprisoned in Saudi Arabia
. (read
the interview online)
In November 2003 he testified at a Commons committee
and said the activities by both Foreign Affairs
and embassy officials fell "well short of anything
that could be considered supportive." Sampson
called on Ottawa to launch a public inquiry into
his case.
Looking
for Justice
In October 2004 Sampson along with the seven men
he was imprisoned with begun legal proceedings in
an attempt to sue the Saudi officials they say were
responsible for their torture.
In October 2004 a British court granted Sampson
and others the right to sue the people who they
say tortured them while in prison.
Sampson and the others want to sue the Saudi Minister
of the Interior, the head of the Saudi jail, and
some of their torturers.
(read more)
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