SAUDI ARABIA-WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT

Early day motion 804, tabled 3 March 2003 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 38 members.

That this House is concerned about the ongoing plight of Alexander Mitchell, William Sampson, Raj Schyver, James Lee, James Cottle, Les Walker, Peter Brandon and Glen Ballard who are currently being detained in Saudi Arabian gaols; notes that at their trials and subsequent appeals, lawyers outlined to judges detailed evidence of confessions obtained under severe distress conducted by Saudi officials, which included them being suspended upside down for hours with their hands and feet bound, sleep deprivation for up to 10 days and regular beatings and torture on their persons; and calls upon the Government to insist upon their release, an immediate end to their incarceration and a full inquiry into their cases.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 10, Labour/Co-operative 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.