Charges against Irish citizen being held in Iraqi jail dropped, says family

By Cate McCurry, PA

Charges against Irish citizen Yasser Eljuboori, who was being held in jail in Iraq, have been dropped, his family has confirmed.

Mr Eljuboori was detained by Iraqi police earlier this week after he tried to board a flight back to Dublin following a trip to visit his sick mother.

Mr Eljuboori, a well-known anti-corruption activist, appeared in court on Thursday morning in Baghdad.

 

He was told that the charges against him were to be dropped, and he has been released on bail.

But the Iraqi authorities have retained his passport, and he has been informed that there are “two to three days of paperwork” to complete before he will be allowed to leave the country and return home to his family in Dublin.

Speaking from her home in Balgriffin, Dublin, Mr Eljuboori’s wife Laura Wickham said: “This is a step in the right direction but there is a long road still ahead to bring Yasser home to us in Dublin.

“It is wonderful news that the charges have been dropped, but I will not stop campaigning until Yasser is safely home in Dublin airport.

 

“I call on the Iraqi authorities to return Yasser’s passport urgently, end this ordeal and allow him to return home.

“I thank the Tánaiste and the Department of Foreign Affairs for the support which has brought us to this point.

“But now I call upon them to keep the pressure up and make clear to the Iraqi authorities that this case is not over until Yasser is safely home in Ireland.”

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, counsel for Ms Wickham, added: “We welcome the news that Yasser Eljuboori has finally been released from custody, after an agonising four days of unjust and arbitrary detention, and mistreatment.

“He should never have been arrested, detained or charged in the first place, and his family should never have been put through this ordeal.

 

“We call on the Iraqi authorities to ensure he is now able to leave the country safely and speedily and return to his home in Dublin.

“We have asked the Irish Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Union External Action Service and the United Nations Special Procedures to seek urgent assurances from the Iraqi authorities that Yasser will face no further impediments and will finally be allowed safe passage from Baghdad.

“Regrettably, we know from other cases that this is a danger point for Yasser, as there are continuing risks to him whilst he remains in Iraq.

“It is imperative that the Iraqi authorities know the world will continue to watch their actions until Yasser lands safely in Dublin airport.”

In a statement, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he welcomed the decision to drop charges against Mr Eljuboori.

“This is naturally positive news for him, for his family, and all those who know and cherish him,” Mr Martin said.

 

“I know from speaking directly with Mr Eljuboori’s wife, Laura, today and earlier in the week, just how difficult the past few days have been for her and their three young children.

“I hope today’s developments will go some way towards alleviating the stress they have been experiencing, but I understand that their deep worry will not ease until the moment they are reunited with Yasser in Dublin.

“Earlier this morning, I had an open and constructive call with Dr Fuad Hussein, the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Iraq, on Mr Eljuboori’s case.

“Dr Hussein subsequently advised me that he had raised the case at the highest level and was confident that Mr Eljuboori would be released following the waiving of charges against him.

“Officials in my department and our embassy in Jordan remain actively involved on this case and will continue to provide consular assistance until Mr Eljuboori is reunited with his family in Dublin.”