Nov 10, 2022

British prisoner in Iraq pleads Rishi Sunak for help

Brian appeals to the Prime Minister to get him out of "horrendous" conditions

After two months in Baghdad jail, British father of three pleads for Rishi Sunak to help get him home. The construction engineer has been held over an Interpol Red Notice issued by Qatar National Bank (QNB). QNB has since issued a clearance note stamped by Qatar authorities but Qatar has not communicated this to Iraqi authorities.

“We have done everything we can to sort out this mess”, says Brian Glendinning from a noisy prison cell. “The bank has cleared me and no longer wants me extradited but authorities are not communicating. This has been the most traumatic experience of my entire life. My health is failing and I’m losing my mind. I can’t go on like this. I am begging Rishi Sunak and James Cleverly to just get the countries to communicate. It’s just bureaucracy now but this is my life, my every moment is painful. I’m struggling to survive and I’m worried for my life every moment I'm here. The conditions here are hard. I’m not in a minimum security prison with white collar criminals. This is Iraq and the only reason I took a job here was to provide for my family and repay Qatar bank.

“It’s not just hard for me. It’s my whole family, we are in tears every day. Please please help us”, begged Brian in an emotional call.

Douglas Chapman, MP met with Qatar’s Ambassador this week who advised he would raise the issue with the Qatari government but Brian’s brother John says “we were told the British government would help push this through to the final stages but now we’ve been told the British government doesn’t get involved, we’ve heard nothing and the silence is deafening. We are only asking for a simple communication to Iraq to tell them to close the case. This would be sufficient for Brian to be released immediately and come home.”

Qatari Ambassador receives MP for Brian Glendinning Mr Douglas Chapman, MP for Dumferline and West Fife visited the Qatar Embassy yesterday to hand deliver a letter. He was welcomed by Qatar’s Ambassador, His Excellency Mr. Yousef Ali Al-Khater who Mr Chapman says “was very supportive”.

His wife Kimberly said this morning “just seems one thing after another”. Kimberly wakes up every morning hoping today will be the day she gets the good news. “It’s disheartening having to tell Brian every day to just hang in there again. It’s not right. He’s being treated like he is nothing. I just don’t see how our government can welcome and encourage Qatar but not bother to help in a situation like this that is clearly wrong. He’s paid the bank. The bank doesn’t want him in prison anymore. What would it take for Qatar to show they actually care for people?”

Radha Stirling, founder of Due Process International has called for the British government to stand up for human rights and end the wrongful detention. “The family are going through hell right now and we are calling on the respective governments to put an end to Brian’s detention. He’s spent 2 months in a Baghdad jail, has paid his debt and nobody seems to care that he’s still languishing there as the world cup approaches? It’s absolutely time for James Cleverly and Rishi Sunak to use their diplomatic channels to push this final stage through and get Brian home. Nobody should be detained and treated like garbage over small bank debts.”