The family of a retired British geologist facing the death penalty in Iraq has called on the UK government to intervene urgently.
Jim Fitton, 66, was detained by authorities in the Middle East on charges of smuggling during a field trip to geology and archeology.
Fiton, who lives in Malaysia, and an unnamed German were arrested when airport security guards found pieces of broken pottery in their luggage as they tried to leave the country, according to his children.
But they insist he was informed that the fragments had no economic or historical value to Iraq before assembling them on the spot in Eridu on March 20th. Now they say he must stand trial in the week beginning May 8, after Eid al-Fitr in Iraq.
His children, Joshua and Leila, as well as Leila’s husband, Sam Tasker, say Fitton could face the death penalty if convicted, and have launched a petition calling on the British government to intervene.
A statement said: “We have days to save him before the verdict and we need the foreign ministry to help by intervening in his case now.
“Our lawyer has prepared a proposal to close the case and immediately repatriate our father, which requires the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to be presented to the Iraqi judiciary.
Tasker added: “Jim often brought home small souvenirs from his travels to remember the trip and share his experiences with us. For him, this was no more important than bringing home a small stone from the beach to commemorate a special family holiday. It is generally accepted that items are priceless.
This is the crime that now leads my father-in-law to face a potential death sentence under section 41 of the Iraqi Artifacts Act 55 of 2002.
He said the two were arrested after the group’s luggage was checked at the airport, claiming 12 pieces were found.
Tasker is a member of Vera Hobhouse, a member of the Liberal Democrats from Bath, who raised the case in the House of Commons and called on ministers to answer the “incredibly serious” question.
In a letter to Hobhouse, Foreign Secretary Amanda Milling said: “We understand the urgency of the case and have already expressed our concerns to the Iraqi authorities about the possible imposition of the death penalty in Mr Fitton’s case.”
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