UK

British geologist facing death penalty in Iraq for ‘smuggling broken pottery’

A retired British geologist is facing the death penalty in Iraq after being arrested at the airport over shards of broken pottery, according to his family.

Jim Fitton is due to stand trial in May accused of attempting to smuggle historical artefacts out of the country, they said.

The 66-year-old had picked up shards of broken pottery – after being assured they had no value – on a visit to a historical site, according to a petition calling on the UK government to help facilitate his release.

The retired geologist – who lives in Malaysia – was arrested while trying to fly back home from his geology and archaeology tour in Iraq earlier this year.

“The statutory punishment for his alleged crime is execution,” his family said.

Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP who represents family members in Bath, said Mr Fitton’s case was “deeply worrying” and urged the British government to intervene.

The detained Briton’s children – Joshua and Leila – and Leila’s husband Sam Tasker have launched the petition calling for the same.

“Whilst on the tour, our father visited historical sites around Iraq, where his tour group found fragments of stones and shards of broken pottery in piles on the ground,” it said.

“These fragments were in the open, unguarded and with no signage warning against removal.

“Tour leaders also collected the shards as souvenirs at the site in Eridu. Tour members were told that this would not be an issue, as the broken shards had no economic or historical value.”

It added: “We think that our father may be put on trial the week commencing 8 May, after Eid in Iraq.

“We have days to save him before sentencing and we need the Foreign Office to help by intervening in his case now.

“Our lawyer has drafted a proposal for cessation of the case and the immediate repatriation of our father, which requires the backing of the Foreign Office to put to the Iraqi judiciary.”

Mr Tasker, in a statement, explained: “Jim would often bring home small souvenirs from his trips to remember the journey by and share his experiences with us.

“To him this was no more significant than bringing home a small stone from the beach to remember a special family holiday. The items are widely agreed to be valueless.

“This is the offence that now sees my father-in-law facing a potential death sentence under article 41 of the Iraqi artefacts law no.55, of 2002.”

Mr Tasker said Mr Fitton and a German man on the trip were arrested after the group’s baggage was checked at the airport, with 12 shards said to have been recovered from his luggage.

The incident took place on 20 March and a serious illness to the group’s tour guide was also reported.

Mr Tasker is a constituent of Ms Hobhouse, who has raised the case in the House of Commons and urged ministers to respond to the “incredibly serious” issue.

Jim Fitton with his family

Xural.com

Related Articles

Bir cavab yazın

Sizin e-poçt ünvanınız dərc edilməyəcəkdir. Gərəkli sahələr * ilə işarələnmişdir

Back to top button