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Saudi Arabia - Family says Ottawa not helping Canadian facing Saudi beheading
CBC ^ | 12.13.2002

Posted on 12/13/2002 2:02:11 PM PST by swarthyguy

OTTAWA - There's growing frustration among supporters of William Sampson, the man who is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, over the way Canada is handling his case.

William Sampson Sampson was arrested nearly two years ago in Riyadh and accused of being involved in a bootlegging operation that mounted a series of attacks against Westerners.

He confessed on Saudi television. He was sentenced to beheading.

But there have been allegations Saudi officials tortured Sampson into that confession.

Sampson's father says the Canadian government hasn't been any help. "He's completely innocent," said James Sampson speaking from his home in White Rock, B.C. "He's been imprisoned, beaten, tortured and they've done nothing."

Saudi officials claim they are above using torture, and Canada says there is no proof.

But Department of Foreign Affairs officials know of one other Canadian arrested in Riyadh on similar charges who claims the Saudis tortured him into making a false confession.

"The information we have, which we presented to Saudi authorities in 2001, came first-hand from another Canadian who had been detained for almost 70 days in the spring of 2001 and this was first-hand information. We considered that information to be sufficiently credible," said Gar Pardy, with the Department Foreign Affairs.

Saudi officials deny the accusation.

"There's all sorts of speculation that surrounds this and as public officials we are very alive to that level of speculation," said Pardy.

Although Canada has its suspicions it is stuck in a diplomatic face-off.

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien admitted as much in a letter he sent to Sampson's mother earlier this year. In it, the prime minister assured her Canada was doing everything it could, but when raising the issue of torture, "we must weigh very carefully any public criticism or intervention against the very real possibility that it might do more harm than good to William's case."

William Sampson refuses to meet with Canadian consular officials in Riyadh.

Written by CBC News Online staff


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arabia; araby; enemies; enemy; saud; saudi; tragickingdom
>>William Sampson refuses to meet with Canadian consular officials in Riyadh.

Isn't this puzzling?

1 posted on 12/13/2002 2:02:11 PM PST by swarthyguy
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To: swarthyguy
If he had my HMO, they would only take his head 80% of the way off.
2 posted on 12/13/2002 2:07:09 PM PST by billorites
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To: swarthyguy
Isn't this puzzling?

Not necessarily, if his jailers' line is: accept a visit from your consular officials, and we'll torture you *worse* afterwards.

3 posted on 12/13/2002 2:07:28 PM PST by dighton
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To: dighton
I thought maybe the Canadians had been taking lessons from State on how to deal with the Saudis and that's why he didn't want to see them.

But then, no-one could be as craven as our guys when it comes to dealing with the swishy kingdom.
4 posted on 12/13/2002 2:16:11 PM PST by swarthyguy
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To: swarthyguy
I understand it's the prisoner's feeling that he doesn't want to have too much to do with Canadian officials; he think (rightly) they won't do much.
5 posted on 12/13/2002 2:22:37 PM PST by fromnovascotia
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To: swarthyguy
"we must weigh very carefully any public criticism or intervention against the very real possibility that it might do more harm than good to William's case."

What, pray tell, could be worse than the situation he is already in? How could intervention hurt?

6 posted on 12/13/2002 2:28:46 PM PST by Rocky
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To: swarthyguy
The Saudis could make him meet with the Canadian officials if they and the Canadians want him to. What's he going to do - close his eyes and cover his ears when the Consul comes to his cell? Handcuff him first, and that will take care of the covering the ears problem.

Since the refusal is not attributed to either Canadian or Saudi sources, the reporter must have personal knowledge of the refusal (but they are careful not to give the reporter's name so that even that could be verified.) Where and when did he meet with the accused?
7 posted on 12/13/2002 2:30:19 PM PST by PAR35
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To: Rocky
If you play your cards right, you can usually buy your way out of a death sentence based on murder in the Saudi kingdom. Canada may be hoping for a deal along those lines.
8 posted on 12/13/2002 2:32:05 PM PST by PAR35
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: PAR35
Yeah, I think they're hoping for a deal on this guy's life, but it might not work. Maybe the U.S. will help, oh, sorry, hah hah hah. They hate us because we're wimps and won't do anything and then demand we help them. See NRO. Won't raise a finger for our guy but scream about how we're not helping them; it works two ways, and the yanks don't get that. They demand total fealty and do nothing in return.
10 posted on 12/13/2002 2:56:25 PM PST by fromnovascotia
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To: swarthyguy
Canada is going to let the Saudi government murder one of its own citizens just so the House of Saud gets a good propaganda moment (they can claim he's guilty of his crimes). Canada is pathetic.

Of course, America let the House of Saud kill 3,000 civilians right on our home soil, so we're not much better in that regard.

11 posted on 12/13/2002 3:10:05 PM PST by xm177e2
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To: swarthyguy; Dark Wing
Depends on who is saying that. "William Sampson refuses to meet with Canadian consular officials in Riyadh."

That could well be a willfully false cover story by the Canadian government. The statement by the victim's father supports this theory.

And it isn't just the Canadian government. A friend told me about a baseball game in Montreal between the Expos and the Baltimore Orioles when Earl Weaver was the Orioles' manager. The fans got noisy so Weaver went out on the field and yelled at them to shut up. They purportedly complied while staring at Weaver in fear. My friend quoted an Oriole player saying at the time, "These people sure aren't Americans."

I'm beginning to wonder if Canada has become a failing state.

12 posted on 12/13/2002 3:26:58 PM PST by Thud
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To: xm177e2
Of course, America let the House of Saud kill 3,000 civilians right on our home soil, so we're not much better in that regard.

BUMP!

Why are we letting this administration get away with a cover-up of the crime of the century??

13 posted on 12/14/2002 8:59:50 AM PST by dagnabbit
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