'I faced crucifixion' claims Scot freed from Saudi jail

Scotland On Sunday ^ | September 7, 2003 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

SANDY Mitchell, the Scot placed under sentence of death in Saudi Arabia, has revealed he was due to be executed by crucifixion, writes Christopher Claire.

Mitchell said he was told by his Saudi lawyer that the sentence called for the victim’s head to be "partially" severed and the body fixed to an X-shaped cross in public view for three days.

Public beheadings are routine in Saudi Arabia, but crucifixion is reserved as an exemplary punishment under sharia (Islamic) law for crimes of the utmost severity. Two highway robbers have been executed in this way in the past 20 years.

Mitchell was one of six Britons arrested in Riyadh after a series of bomb attacks on westerners three years ago. They were set free from captivity after lobbying by the British government and the Prince of Wales.

Mitchell, 44, said yesterday that he was tortured into confessing crimes that he did not commit. He was arrested in 2000 after Christopher Rodway, a British engineer, had been killed in the first attack and his wife injured.

Mitchell said he was made to stand for nine days with his hands chained above his head and prevented from sleeping.

He added that each night he was tethered hand and foot and suspended with a metal bar behind his legs to expose his buttocks and the soles of his feet. He also claimed he was beaten with an axe handle until he gave the answers his jailers were looking for.

He said: "It went on and on. I used to consider myself a strong person but everybody has their breaking point. I was alone and in pain and if it wasn’t me being beaten it was others and I could hear their screams."

He eventually confessed to being part of a bomb plot masterminded by the British embassy. "It was a ridiculous story, but that was what they wanted," he said.

The bombings are believed to have been the work of Saudi dissidents, but the local authorities had insisted they were part of a turf war between gangs of bootleggers. Alcohol is strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia, but private bars in western compounds were common. The Saudi police had traditionally turned a blind eye to drinking by westerners as long as it was done behind closed doors.

Mitchell said: "The turf war did not exist. That was made up by the Saudi secret police to justify their own existence."

He was locked away in solitary confinement for almost a year before he saw a lawyer.

When he eventually was given access to a legal representative he discovered he had already been sentenced to death without a trial. No evidence other than his confession was ever brought forward. About 45 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year and 75 in 2001.

Mitchell said his Saudi lawyer had told him he had been singled out for crucifixion - the ultimate punishment allowed under sharia law. Mitchell said: "I used to think. you can take my head but you can’t take my soul."

He added that a police captain had told him that he would go "insane" if he did not confess.

[EggsAckley]

Public beheadings are routine in Saudi Arabia

One perfect reason to demand the dismantling of the House of Saud.

[fatidic]

So, why does our government pretend that the Saudis are our friends? They are totally barbaric! Where are those in government with a conscience outing them on all their evil practices?

[EggsAckley]

I hate to say this, but the answer is "oil." The Saud's got it, and we want it.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

A Religion of Peace

[Birdsong Bay]

Good point!!! I hope everyone will get and read Tea With Terrorists -- this could have come right out of this book!!!

[ConservativeStandUP]

I have to be honest, I would not mind if they would behead AQ terrorists or behead the people they've rounded up for the bombings in Riyadh earlier this year. That would send just the right message to me. Of course we all know they won't do that.

That being said, why ANY westerner would venture into that backward hellhole for ANY reason is beyond me. I know, I know, our oil company employees need to work there. But come on, the country forbids liquor and porn. While their own go off and have drunken orgies in Europe.

That alone is reason enough to avoid it like the plague.

[dagnabbit]

Where the F was his embassy and consular officers in all this? How did the UK government allow this to happen and to continue?

[freekitty]

How can those who defend these Middle East countries ignore this treatment?

[CodeMonkey]

And we can all thank corporate America for why we are fighting the War on Terrorism today. If it were not for big oil corporations we'd not be dependent on saudi oil today and we wouldn't have to compromise on our security, Israel's security and our other economic interests. This should prove once and for all why we need to toss the myth that corporations of any kind (companies, unions, etc) have a right to ever be involved in politcs onto the dustheap of history. I have long since come to believe that the real campaign finance reform bill should have contained a single criminal penalty:

Any attempt to bribe or influence through financial activity a member of Congress, the Executive branch, the Judiciary or a career employee of the United States government shall constitute a class six felony punishable by no more than twenty years in a federal prison and no less than ten. Upon conviction for receiving bribes or being influenced, the party from the government shall face the same penalty. Any number of offense three or more shall constitute a capital offense wherein the offender shall be sentenced to execution by firing squad. Under no circumstances shall parole be offered for bribery nor shall it be possible to commute the sentence to life-long imprisonment.

If we passed that and a few lobbyists got caught trying to bribe Congresscritters and were thus executed we'd have a lot less problems. I'm sorry, but if you bribe our leaders you deserve to be executed and your body dumped in a vat of acid so that your physical existance is erased from history.

[Alter Kaker]

That being said, why ANY westerner would venture into that backward hellhole for ANY reason is beyond me. I know, I know, our oil company employees need to work there. But come on, the country forbids liquor and porn. While their own go off and have drunken orgies in Europe. That alone is reason enough to avoid it like the plague.

Our partners go to Arabia very often. Why? Money. A terrible place to live, but easy place to get rich if supply what they demand. We try to celebrate business and pleasure.

[satchmodog9]

What, no "religion of peace " update tag. I think this qualifies. Also, for those who say that our culture has no right teaching its children that we are morally superior. Kiss my can.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

Bump!

[Alter Kaker]

We try to celebrate business and pleasure.

While this is true, intended word would be "separate," not "celebrate." English is very complicated for me.

[Conservative til I die]

whatever.

[Nachum]

Nuke them until their ashes glow.

[dogbyte12]

15 of 19 hijackers came in on Saudi visas. They are our friends though.

[bluebunny]

This is terrible! I hate the Saudis. We have to get away from these people. Even if we have to go back riding bicycles. This is sickening.

[ConservativeStandUP]

I'd sooner take my chances dealing crack in the south Bronx. The Cali drug cartel has more decency than the H.O F.

[Alter Kaker]

I'd sooner take my chances dealing crack in the south Bronx. The Cali drug cartel has more decency than the H.O F.

More money in Arabia. Much more money. I like Armand Hammer approach used in Libya - land in private jet and do not get off plane - let locals come to you. Like I say, it is possible to profit from Saudi bankers with only visiting country extra rarely.