|
Saudis Reject Canadian Call for Torture Probe
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had rejected Ottawaâs demand for an investigation into the case of a Canadian man who alleged he was regularly tortured during the 2-1/2 years he spent in a Riyadh jail. William Sampson — who was sentenced to death on a charge of involvement in a fatal bombing — said he was punched, kicked, hung upside down and beaten until he made a confession. He was released last month after receiving a royal pardon. He was one of the so-called "alk runners". Saudi Ambassador Mohammed al-Husseini said in a statement that he had delivered a diplomatic note to Canadaâs Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissing the call for a probe. "The request to conduct an open investigation into Mr. Sampsonâs allegations of torture goes against all laws and regulations, both within the kingdom and internationally," Al-Husseini said. "Itâs against the law to investigate Saudis, itâs in the book." He said Riyadhâs desire for good ties with Ottawa was behind the pardon granted to Sampson, who he described as being guilty of "killing another human being who had the full right to live safe and secure with his family". Still trying to pin a bombing on him, cuz everyone knows there are no terrorists in Saudi. Er, at least when this attack happened. The uncompromising rejection will pose more problems for Foreign Minister Bill Graham, who has come under heavy pressure from opposition politicians to take a tough line with Riyadh. Some legislators want the Saudi ambassador to be expelled. Graham says he believes Sampsonâs statements that he was tortured. You didnât believe him while he was being tortured. I think Mr. Graham needs to be expelled from his job. Riyadh denies he was mistreated. No one at the Foreign Ministry was immediately available for comment on the ambassadorâs statement. Iâll bet they werenât. Posted by: Steve 2003-09-23 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=18999 |