A British engineer is in prison in Iraq and going through extradition to Qatar over neglected repayments on a small financial institution mortgage, in a case stated to spotlight the perils going through the ones travelling to the Gulf state for the World Cup.
Brian Glendinning, 43, who were shrunk to paintings on a BP refinery in Iraq, was once arrested on an Interpol “red notice” at Baghdad airport on 12 September and has been in a police mobile since looking ahead to an extradition listening to.
The Qatari executive is but to record its request for extradition however Glendinning was once knowledgeable on arrest that an Interpol realize were issued by way of Qatar over neglected bills, on what members of the family stated were an £20,000 mortgage taken out in 2018 when he had labored within the nation.
Glendinning’s spouse, Kimberly, 39, a good looks therapist, stated her husband had struggled to make the total bills after turning into in poor health this Christmas and dropping his process in Scotland however that per thirty days instalments had nonetheless been made to the Qatar National Bank with whom he was once in common contact.
Radha Stirling, the founding father of IPEX, an NGO in search of reform of Interpol and the extradition procedure, stated the usage of a pink realize over this sort of minor factor must be taken as a warning to soccer lovers travelling to the World Cup, which begins in Qatar on 20 November.
Stirling stated that Qatar had a historical past of abusing the Interpol device, during which the family members of the ones centered have been regularly pressured to pay out sums in far more than that owed so as to steer clear of their family members going through long prison sentences.
The case raises issues that the smallest transgression by way of travelling lovers might be used as an excuse by way of the Qatar executive to chase British nationals as soon as the finals are completed.
Qatar is making ready to host 1.2 million guests for the World Cup, together with lovers travelling to watch England and Wales. Former England captain David Beckham has signed a profitable deal to advertise the finals, a transfer that his former Manchester United teammate Eric Cantona described as a “big mistake” given Qatar’s human rights file.
Stirling stated: “We will make every diplomatic and legal effort to save Brian from extradition. Qatar is making itself a nuisance and costing taxpayers a lot of money.
“We’ve helped Brits arrested in Spain [on an Interpol notice issued by Qatar], many times, the Czech Republic, Italy, Denmark, Ukraine and so on. The police and court time is costly and the victim can be unfairly detained throughout the trial.
“It’s a human rights issue and clearly highlights Qatar’s intimate relationship with Interpol. With the World Cup coming up, Qatar should be mindful of rights attacks towards foreigners.”
Glendinning, a father of 3 from Kincardine, west of Edinburgh, may just face a long imprisonment in Baghdad because the Iraqi government don’t put in force the overall rule that an extradition request must be made inside 45 days of arrest.
His brother, John, 39, stated: “Brian is a hardworking man who has always put his family first. He is the life and soul of any family occasion or party, where he earns the name happy feet, given to his dancing skills. Anyone who meets Brian ends up calling him friend, much loved and well liked in the village of Kincardine where he was brought up and still lives today.”