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THE fifth estate: A State of Denial
Story Update> Printer Version
Broadcast
December 11th, 2002
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)
the
fifth estate : A State of Denial
The
Bill Sampson Story - Inside a Saudi Prison
- Justice in Saudi Arabia
Resources - Update
Broadcast December 11, 2002 on CBC
News: the fifth
estate
UPDATED in October 2004