The household of a Scottish man jailed in Iraq over a £20,000 debt to a Qatar financial institution have staged a protest exterior of Holyrood demanding motion from the Authorities to convey him dwelling.
Brian Glendinning, from Fife, was detained when he travelled to Basra to begin a brand new job on September 4.
The 43-year-old was on account of begin work as a development engineer when he was cuffed at border management after an Interpol Purple Discover from Qatar flashed up towards his identify.
He has been in jail since and advised he could also be extradited to Qatar to serve a two-year jail sentence.
Brian's family members staged a protest exterior the Scottish Parliament constructing to name on officers to place stress on the Authorities to assist free him.
Brian's brother John Glendinning, who has been tirelessly campaigning for his sibling’s launch, added: "We hope in the present day's demonstration will get the eye of the Scottish Authorities. Our household wants their assist and assist from the UK Authorities.
"We tried to contact ministers however we have had no response. We have been vocal about Brian's case within the media and on-line - nobody has helped us.
"We want the Scottish Authorities to use stress to the UK Authorities to intervene in Brian's case.
"We want their assist and I will not cease till we get their consideration."
Brian is believed to have taken out a mortgage when he was dwelling within the center east in 2016 due to the low-interest charges.
His household say he was making funds in the direction of the mortgage till he was pressured to surrender his job in Qatar on account of sick well being the next yr.
After his arrest, John says the household discovered a warrant was issued for Brian's arrest in 2017 over the unpaid debt - however he claims Brian was by no means made conscious of it.
Brian’s spouse Kimberley beforehand stated she fears for her husband's welfare amid claims of 'horrible circumstances' behind bars.
She obtained a heartbreaking cellphone name from the detention facility in Baghdad the place Brian has been for over a month.
On the time she stated: “He’s not nicely. He has no vitality. I actually suppose he’s given up. The circumstances are horrible."
Kimberley stated she had been overwhelmed by the quantity of people that joined the household of their protest in the present day.
She added: "It reveals that different individuals do care about Brian too. We're not alone on this."
Radha Stirling, an extradition disaster marketing consultant who has been serving to the household, stated: “It's appalling that a British citizen has been detained in Iraq and our Scottish MP, Mr Douglas Chapman has obtained no response to his communications to James Cleverly, our International Minister.
"Cleverly ought to be utilizing each diplomatic effort accessible with Qatari and Iraqi counterparts to finish this circus, however he has not even responded to fundamental communication.
"It's no surprise that the Glendinnings' and supporting Scottish MP’s are encouraging an illustration in entrance of Parliament calling for motion.
"They've famous that different Scots detained overseas have obtained no assist both, together with Conor Howard, Billy Barclay and Jamie Harron.”
Ms Stirling went on to say she believes Interpol will delete the Purple Discover as soon as she has appealed, however stated the method takes months and doesn't assist Brian in his present predicament.
She added: "QNB ought to by no means have been capable of record Brian within the first place however the harm is completed."
Scots males Connor Howard, Billy Barclay and Jamie Harron, had been additionally all detained in international prisons over latest years in related circumstances.
Connor Howard was arrested in Corfu after an Interpol discover from Qatar authorities stated they discovered medicine on him when he handed via the Center Jap state in October 2019. He had a hashish grinder in his possession and costs had been dropped after he spent weeks in a Greek jail.
Billy Barclay was jailed within the United Arab Emirates over an alleged counterfeit £20. Billy was stopped on his return to Dubai Worldwide Airport in September 2017 after an incident the earlier yr when he tried to change cash on the Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah. Regardless of his arrest, the case towards him was lastly dropped and he was allowed to return dwelling to Scotland.
Jamie Harron, from Stirling, was arrested for public indecency after placing a hand on a person to keep away from spilling a drink as he moved via a crowded bar in Dubai in 2017.
The 27-year-old was sentenced to 3 months in jail - however the case towards him was dropped on order from the Ruler of Dubai.
A Scottish Authorities spokesperson stated:“The Scottish Authorities is conscious of the case of Brian Glendinning who's at the moment being held in Iraq and recognise the anxiousness prompted for his household. We name on the UK Authorities to do all it may well to assist him and his household at this regarding time.”
A International, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace Spokesperson stated: “We're offering assist to a British man who has been arrested in Iraq and are in contact with the native authorities.”
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