LEFT TO ROT

In June 2001, fencing contractor Jim Cottle flew from Manchester to Bahrain, expecting to begin another routine six-month contract. Instead, he was abducted at the airport by the Saudi secret police, shackled and forced across the border. After ten weeks of torture and sleep deprivation, he and two other British men confessed on Saudi television to a series of car bombs.

For the next two and a half years, Jim was held prisoner, despite there being no evidence against him. It was well known that al-Qaeda was behind the bombings, but at this point the Saudi authorities were determined to deny al-Qaeda’s existence. For the first nine months, Jim was held in solitary confinement, in a tiny cell with no view or access to the outside. Back in Manchester, Jim’s ex-wife Mary was initially told that Jim had been arrested for drinking, and would be freed within weeks. When Jim’s confession was broadcast,it was shocking as the FCO had known the content and lied. Mary was told that there was a possibility he might be executed. After consulting her children, Mary decided to ignore the Foreign Office’s orders, and began briefing the press.

Over the next year and a half, Mary ran a courageous and lonely campaign to raise awareness of the men’s plight, and to force the UK government to make their case a priority. Throughout this time, she was obstructed, deceived, and slandered by the Foreign Office, whose only concern seemed to be maintaining good diplomatic relations with the Saudis, in the build up to the Iraq war.

Over time, Mary’s campaign seemed to have an impact, although there was little evidence of this in England. Jim’s living conditions improved, he was allowed to exercise in the yard, and moved into a shared cell with Pete Brandon, a fellow Brit.

In the summer of 2003, the media clamour became louder, and questions were raised in the Commons. In May, five Saudis were released from Guantanamo Bay, in what appeared to be straight swap for the British prisoners( NY Times broke the story )

Eventually, in August, the men were freed, and returned to their families.

Since the men’s return, Jim and Mary have vowed to bring the torturers to justice, and to highlight the UK government’s failure to take action. In October 2004, a Court Of Appeal ruling freed the men to sue the Saudi authorities, ruling that the Saudis could not hide behind the UK’s State Immunity Act. In April 2006, the House Of Lords gave the Saudis’ last chance to appeal against this ruling. The Saudis won the appeal with help from the UK Gov.

Left To Rot is the personal memoir of James Cottle and Mary Martini,It is an inspiring story of courage, and determination, which provides a revealing view of Britain’s shameful relationship with Saudi Arabia, which is al-Qaeda’s largest sponsor.

The story of the Saudi prisoners generated considerable press and public interest over the course of two years, and has continued to make headlines worldwide.

James Cottle

James Cottle is a fencing contractor from Manchester, who has three grown-up children, For 18 years, he worked and lived in Saudi Arabia.

In 2001, he was arrested at Bahrain airport,
and forced across the border into Saudi Arabia. After ten weeks of torture inhuman treatment and sleep deprivation, the torture was carried out after evening prayers, throughout the day he was handcuffed to his door so he could not sleep and was not allowed to wash or clean his teeth, he says he smelled worse than a dog, he would shout that he needed to use the bathroom but they let him wait until he soiled himself, he never had a hot dinner in over 2 years and lost half of his body weight, beating of the feet was constant and his feet had blood blisters and green bruising yet they still beat them again and again laughing as he hobbled in the corridor leaving a blood trail, then standing for an hour at a time with his arms stretched high and blindfolded, he tried to slowly put them down but they were waiting with a heavy stick and would aim it across his buttocks, the pain went through his whole body and he wanted to die.. He tried to kill himself thinking the fish bone he swallowed would do the trick, he and two other British men then confessed to a series of car bombs and paraded on TV. Jim was sentenced to 18 years in prison,but was never actually told his sentence. As a result, he spent more than a year thinking he was due to be executed any day.

The Men were allowed a Monthly visit from the British consul but were warned of what to say, Jim did tell them he was being tortured and the FCO relayed that Information to Mary but still the UK Gov would leave them to rot, Baroness Symons was Minister of State for Trade and was still doing good deals with the Saudi Royals, also Tony Blair was bending over backwards for them he did not want them upset, it looked as though nothing was wrong on the outside as Ministers tried to sweep this under the carpet but still not being forceful enough to get the Men out..

Following diplomatic pressure, Jim was released in August 2003, and returned to Manchester. Today, he’s slowly recovering from the effects of his ordeal, and has vowed to bring his captors to justice, and clear his name.

Mary Martini

Mary Martini is a housewife, mother. When ex-husband Jim was arrested in 2001, she was initially told that the charge was ‘alcohol offences’, which would carry a sentence of no more than a few days in prison.

Instead, two months later, she watched on television as Jim confessed to a series of sickening car bombs. It was obvious that his confession was given under duress, but the Foreign Office refused to publicly criticise the Saudi authorities. Mary was ordered to keep quiet; but instead she began briefing the media, and raising the story’s profile.

Thanks to Mary’s persistence, the story became a national issue, and eventually the men were released and returned to Britain. Mary continues to fight for justice for the men, and to raise awareness of Saudi human rights violations. When Jim told Mary of his horrific torture in detail it was truly sickening Jim was a mere shadow of the Man that she had known,the nightmares of the screams of the forgotten in that hell hole prison haunt him forever and the fact that one human being could inflict such pain and suffering on another is truly horrendous...