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A British engineer is in jail in Iraq and dealing with extradition to Qatar over missed repayments on a small financial institution mortgage, in a case mentioned to spotlight the perils dealing with these travelling to the Gulf state for the World Cup.
Brian Glendinning, 43, who had been contracted to work on a BP refinery in Iraq, was arrested on an Interpol “pink discover” at Baghdad airport on 12 September and has been in a police cell since awaiting an extradition listening to.
The Qatari authorities is but to file its request for extradition however Glendinning was knowledgeable on arrest that an Interpol discover had been issued by Qatar over missed funds, on what members of the family mentioned had been an £20,000 mortgage taken out in 2018 when he had labored within the nation.
Glendinning’s spouse, Kimberly, 39, a magnificence therapist, mentioned her husband had struggled to make the total funds after changing into unwell this Christmas and shedding his job in Scotland however that month-to-month instalments had nonetheless been made to the Qatar Nationwide Financial institution with whom he was in common contact.
Radha Stirling, the founding father of IPEX, an NGO in search of reform of Interpol and the extradition course of, mentioned the usage of a pink discover over such a minor challenge needs to be taken as a warning to soccer followers travelling to the World Cup, which begins in Qatar on 20 November.
Stirling mentioned that Qatar had a historical past of abusing the Interpol system, by way of which the kinfolk of these focused had been usually pressured to pay out sums in extra of that owed as a way to keep away from their family members dealing with prolonged jail sentences.
The case raises considerations that the smallest transgression by travelling followers may very well be used as an excuse by the Qatar authorities to chase British nationals as soon as the finals are completed.
Qatar is getting ready to host 1.2 million guests for the World Cup, together with followers travelling to observe 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 “large mistake” given Qatar’s human rights document.
Stirling mentioned: “We’ll make each diplomatic and authorized effort to avoid wasting Brian from extradition. Qatar is making itself a nuisance and costing taxpayers some huge cash.
“We’ve helped Brits arrested in Spain [on an Interpol notice issued by Qatar], many instances, the Czech Republic, Italy, Denmark, Ukraine and so forth. The police and courtroom time is dear and the sufferer could be unfairly detained all through the trial.
“It’s a human rights challenge and clearly highlights Qatar’s intimate relationship with Interpol. With the World Cup developing, Qatar needs to be conscious of rights assaults in direction of foreigners.”
Glendinning, a father of three from Kincardine, west of Edinburgh, may face a prolonged imprisonment in Baghdad because the Iraqi authorities don’t implement the overall rule that an extradition request needs to be made inside 45 days of arrest.
His brother, John, 39, mentioned: “Brian is a hardworking man who has all the time put his household first. He’s the life and soul of any household event or get together, the place he earns the identify completely happy ft, given to his dancing expertise. Anybody who meets Brian finally ends up calling him good friend, a lot beloved and effectively appreciated within the village of Kincardine the place he was introduced up and nonetheless lives in the present day.”
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