Jim Fitton: Government urged to stop ‘nightmare’ of Briton facing death penalty in Iraq

The federal government happens to be advised to cease the “nightmare” of a Brit guy dealing with the demise punishment in Iraq “before it can become a tragedy” by their daughter’s MP.

Wera Hobhouse informed parliament she ended up being “deeply worried” with the way the international workplace had managed the actual situation of Jim Fitton, whoever test ended up being “fast approaching”.

The 66-year-old retired geologist happens to be detained for days in Iraq, in which he appears accused of wanting to smuggle historic items out from the nation.

he had been arrested at an airport earlier on this season over rocks and shards of broken pottery in the baggage. Their household state he selected these unguarded products upon a historical web site check out after becoming guaranteed they’d no financial nor historic worth.

The statutory discipline when it comes to so-called criminal activity is execution, in accordance with a petition contacting the united kingdom federal government to aid facilitate their launch.

Ms Hobhouse lifted an urgent concern on Mr Fitton – whom today life in Malaysia along with his partner – in parliament on Wednesday.

“I have always been profoundly worried because of the nature of international Office’s wedding with my constituent’s instance,” she stated.

The Liberal Democrat MP stated Mr Fitton’s attorney feels representations through the British federal government “could make an enormous distinction” but she seems its providing the effect its “not specifically interested or worried” alternatively.

”Jim is times today from an endeavor. We have been informed that federal government will never be making essential representations towards Iraqi federal government,” she stated.

“i am aware that German federal government is making representations on the behalf of certainly one of their particular nationals that has been detained with Jim; the reason why will the international workplace perhaps not perform some exact same?”

She included: “British residents deserve assistance from the Uk federal government. Jim Fitton is possibly dealing with the demise punishment.

“we encourage ministers to-do every little thing they may be able to cease this nightmare before it can become a tragedy.”

James Cleverly, a Foreign workplace minister, stated he “completely” refused this information of government’s part in the event, saying consular officials had satisfied with Mr Fitton and also the British ambassador to Iraq had raised the matter utilizing the Iraqi authorities numerous times.

“we’ll definitely still boost this instance utilizing the Iraqi officials, we shall definitely still liaise with Mr Fitton along with his household, and we’ll still help Uk nationals in incarceration around the world,” he stated.

The minister for European countries and the united states earlier in the day informed parliament: “We comprehend the urgency and also the problems that Mr Fitton along with his household have actually. We Can’t, definitely, interfere or look for to hinder the judicial procedure for a different country, in the same way we’d not be expectant of disturbance within very own judicial procedure.”

“That stated, the Uk ambassador in Baghdad has actually raised and can still boost Mr Fitton’s instance utilizing the Iraqi hovernment. That features increasing utilizing the authorities the UK’s powerful resistance towards demise punishment, in framework of both its possible application to Mr Fitton and our in-principle resistance to it in every circumstances.”

The detained Briton’s son-in-law formerly informed The Independent your family believed “completely abandoned” because of the international workplace since Mr Fitton ended up being detained earlier on this season.

His girl stated at week-end she ended up being “heartbroken and afraid” as the woman dad missed the woman wedding in Malaysia.