William Sampson (author) - Release

Release

In August 2003, after thirty-one months' incarceration in solitary confinement, Sampson and the others were suddenly released, and immediately deported to London, England. Charles, Prince of Wales, Rubin Carter, Justin Rodway, and Canadian Member of Parliament, Stéphane Dion and Dan McTeague were part of the diplomatic effort to obtain the release. In July 2004, it was revealed that the final release was part of a prisoner exchange for the release of five Saudis from the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Officials of both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UK) and the State Department (USA) have "anonymously" confirmed this information. A memorandum between officials of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs referring to the prisoner exchange adds further evidence of its occurrence. The Belgian government has confirmed both the authenticity of the memo and its knowledge of the exchange, but has denied any direct involvement in the negotiations. The Canadian government refuses to comment on the matter.

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