Lots of people supported his release, there was quite a campaign and they were probably right too given he was kept prisoner illegally.
I think it was far too convenient for him to be in such a wrong place at such a wrong time. I also think that should have been tested in a court of law with due process not rendition and imprisonment without a trial.
I see very little reason for him to be where he was but he should have had the right to defend himself and for his justifications to then be challenged in a systematic fashion.
So the question is was he supported for due process or his beliefs because the two are very different as you correctly highlight.