Archbishop's Concern Following Meeting With Detained Human Rights Worker
Monday 12th March 2007
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has had a private meeting with Dr Sarah Wykes, a human rights worker with Global Witness, who was detained in Cabinda, Angola, last month on suspicion of espionage.After a short period of detention, Dr Wykes was released on bail but is not allowed to leave the country.
The meeting took place in the capital Luanda today [Monday 12th March 2007] and Dr Williams said it had been useful in briefing him on her case. He added that he had raised the matter with the Angolan authorities:
"In meeting the President of the National Assembly, I expressed my concern for Sarah's well-being and that of her family in the UK. I urged a variation in her bail conditions which would allow her to return to the UK pending the final outcome."
It is expected that a decision in regard to her bail conditions is to be taken tomorrow.