An Australian engineer detained in Baghdad for nearly four years has finally been released, ending a prolonged imprisonment that his family described as a harrowing ordeal. Authorities in Iraq permitted his departure after a standoff tied to a business dispute involving his company’s work on a central bank headquarters project. The case has drawn attention to the legal uncertainties faced by foreign nationals in Iraq, where arrests without formal charges have sparked international concern. His family’s years of advocacy appear to have contributed to the resolution, though questions remain about the broader implications for detained foreigners.
Australian foreign minister welcomes Iraqi government’s decision to allow engineer to leave BaghdadFollow our Australia politics live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian engineer Robert Pether has been allowed to leave Iraq after a four-year stint in a Baghdad jail cell that his family feared would kill him.Pether’s family say they have been “living in hell” since he was arrested without charge in April 2021 in connection to a business dispute between his firm – which was building a new headquarters for the central bank – and the Iraqi government. Continue reading...
