Tens of thousands of people have backed a campaign to release a retired British geologist who faces the death penalty in Iraq for smuggling charges.
Pressure is now mounting on the government to take urgent action and help free 66-year-old father of two Jim Fiton, whose “life is on balance”, supporters say.
In the days since its launch, his family has already collected more than 95,000 signatures.
His daughter Leila and her husband Sam Tasker of Bath in Somerset have also revealed that his verdict this month is expected to coincide with a long-planned celebration of their wedding, which took place last year amid coronavirus restrictions.
They said: “There is never a good time for something like this to happen, but we are a week away from what should be the happiest day of our lives, and the culmination of more than two years of planning, and it has turned into an absolute living nightmare.”
Mr. Fitan has worked as a geologist in oil and gas companies during his career and lives in his foster home in Malaysia with his wife Sarija.
The COVID travel rules mean that Mr Fitan’s daughter has not seen him for more than two years.
Mr Fitan was detained in Iraq for five weeks after allegedly trying to smuggle historical artifacts out of the country.
His family said Mr Fitan was collecting stones and fragments of broken pottery as souvenirs while visiting a site in Eris, in the south-east of the country, as part of an organized geological and archeological tour.
But they added that the items were recognized as artifacts under Iraqi law, and the accusation against Mr Fitan claims that “anyone who removed or intended to remove antiquities from Iraq on purpose is punishable by execution”.
Mr. Fitan was seen here with his wife Sarija and daughter Leila, who described her plight as a “living nightmare.”
The case in connection with the March incident is expected to be postponed to the week beginning May 8.
Mr Fitan’s family described the response to the petition as “incredible”, adding in a statement: “Jim appreciates the support of old colleagues, good friends, kindred spirits and complete strangers who have not allowed this to go unnoticed.
“We will continue to fight as long as you continue to keep you behind.”
The family said their lawyer had drafted a proposal under Iraqi law to close the case, but they needed the foreign ministry to “put its weight on the plan and approve it” so they could arrange a high-level meeting with representatives. judicial authorities. in the country.
Vera Hobhouse, a Liberal Democrat MP from Bath, raised her case before ministers in the House of Commons.
She said: “We are pressuring the Foreign Ministry to intervene, but unfortunately they continue to refuse.
“I can’t understand why the State Department doesn’t intervene when Jim’s life is at stake.”
She added: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must do everything in its power to bring Jim home to his family.”
Father of two children with wife and two children Joshua and Leila fighting for his release
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it provides consular support and is in contact with local authorities.
In a letter to Ms Hobhouse last week, Foreign Secretary Amanda Milling said: “We understand the urgency of the matter and have already expressed concern to the Iraqi authorities about the possible imposition of the death penalty in Mr Fitan and the UK’s opposition to the death penalty.”
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