Sandy Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Sandy Mitchell was one of seven men incarcerated in Saudi Arabia
for the bombing death of Christopher Rodway, a British National living in Riyadh
. While in prison, he was tortured and forced to make a televised confession in which he detailed the methods and as to which he and his fellow prisoners committed the crime. He was later granted clemancy and returned to the UK
, as a result of intense negotiations by Charles, Prince of Wales
and possibly a prisoner exchange in the U.S.
Mitchell says the bombings were perpetrated by "Islamic extremists" and that he and others charged were victims of a cover-up conspiracy by Saudi authorities. Along with Mark Hollingsworth, he wrote Saudi Babylon: Torture, Corruption and Cover-Up Inside the House of Saud.
Others charged in connection with the death of Christopher Rodway include Les Walker, Ron Jones, Mike Sedlak, Raf Schyvens, and Bill Sampson
.
Mitchell, Walker, Jones, and Sampson, with the backing of Amnesty International
, The Redress Trust, and Interights, sought the right in the British court system to sue Saudi Arabia for their torture. They won a Court of Appeal ruling in 2004, but it was overturned by a 2006 Law Lords ruling based on the 1978 State Immunity Act.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
for the bombing death of Christopher Rodway, a British National living in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
. While in prison, he was tortured and forced to make a televised confession in which he detailed the methods and as to which he and his fellow prisoners committed the crime. He was later granted clemancy and returned to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, as a result of intense negotiations by Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and possibly a prisoner exchange in the U.S.
Mitchell says the bombings were perpetrated by "Islamic extremists" and that he and others charged were victims of a cover-up conspiracy by Saudi authorities. Along with Mark Hollingsworth, he wrote Saudi Babylon: Torture, Corruption and Cover-Up Inside the House of Saud.
Others charged in connection with the death of Christopher Rodway include Les Walker, Ron Jones, Mike Sedlak, Raf Schyvens, and Bill Sampson
William Sampson (author)
William Sampson, born , is a dual British and Canadian national who was arrested in Saudi Arabia on December 17, 2000 on a variety of charges including terrorism, espionage and murder...
.
Mitchell, Walker, Jones, and Sampson, with the backing of Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
, The Redress Trust, and Interights, sought the right in the British court system to sue Saudi Arabia for their torture. They won a Court of Appeal ruling in 2004, but it was overturned by a 2006 Law Lords ruling based on the 1978 State Immunity Act.