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Londoner in Iraq 'must be freed' | Londoner in Iraq 'must be freed' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The wife of a medical salesman from London arrested by American forces in Iraq has called for his release. | The wife of a medical salesman from London arrested by American forces in Iraq has called for his release. |
Kadhum Ridha Al-Sarraj, 29, from Carshalton, south west London, has been held on suspicion of bomb-making since September last year. | Kadhum Ridha Al-Sarraj, 29, from Carshalton, south west London, has been held on suspicion of bomb-making since September last year. |
An Iraqi judge has ordered his release - but US authorities have given no indication when he will be freed. | An Iraqi judge has ordered his release - but US authorities have given no indication when he will be freed. |
Earlier, Mr Al-Sarraj's wife petitioned the Iraqi embassy in London, but the US has said it must "follow procedure". | Earlier, Mr Al-Sarraj's wife petitioned the Iraqi embassy in London, but the US has said it must "follow procedure". |
Mr Al-Sarraj, an Iraqi national with a UK visa, was arrested at Erbil international airport when his fingerprints sparked a terrorist alert. | Mr Al-Sarraj, an Iraqi national with a UK visa, was arrested at Erbil international airport when his fingerprints sparked a terrorist alert. |
The worst case scenario is that he could be detained for years to come Tom Brake MP | The worst case scenario is that he could be detained for years to come Tom Brake MP |
The US authorities had been tracking him after finding a device he had built in 2006 - which he says is a cardiac monitor. | The US authorities had been tracking him after finding a device he had built in 2006 - which he says is a cardiac monitor. |
Mr Al-Sarraj, who was in Iraq to sell pacemakers, is being held at Camp Cropper, near Baghdad. | Mr Al-Sarraj, who was in Iraq to sell pacemakers, is being held at Camp Cropper, near Baghdad. |
His wife Shereen Nasser, 25, a research assistant, said: "It is beyond frustrating. | His wife Shereen Nasser, 25, a research assistant, said: "It is beyond frustrating. |
"I have a court order in my hand from an Iraqi High Court judge saying he should be released. | "I have a court order in my hand from an Iraqi High Court judge saying he should be released. |
Mr Al-Sarraj and his wife are in their second year of marriage | Mr Al-Sarraj and his wife are in their second year of marriage |
"I am not optimistic about the meeting at the embassy - they were just saying they didn't know the details of the case. | "I am not optimistic about the meeting at the embassy - they were just saying they didn't know the details of the case. |
"How do you get anywhere when everyone just slams the door in your face?" | "How do you get anywhere when everyone just slams the door in your face?" |
Mrs Nasser has visited her husband in Iraq twice and said he is coping well. | Mrs Nasser has visited her husband in Iraq twice and said he is coping well. |
But her fear is that he will be transferred out of Iraq and may spend months or even years being held without charge. | But her fear is that he will be transferred out of Iraq and may spend months or even years being held without charge. |
Earlier, Mrs Nasser attended a meeting with the Iraqi charge d' affaires, at the Iraqi embassy in South Kensington, accompanied by her local MP Tom Brake, who described it as "constructive". | Earlier, Mrs Nasser attended a meeting with the Iraqi charge d' affaires, at the Iraqi embassy in South Kensington, accompanied by her local MP Tom Brake, who described it as "constructive". |
But he said: "The Americans are hiding behind their procedure - but no-one knows exactly what the procedure is. | But he said: "The Americans are hiding behind their procedure - but no-one knows exactly what the procedure is. |
"The worst case scenario is that he could be detained for years to come." | "The worst case scenario is that he could be detained for years to come." |
A spokesman for the American Embassy in Baghdad said: "The Iraqi legal system has ruled that he has not violated Iraqi laws. | |
"In accordance with the January 1st Security Agreement, he will be processed for release in the order that his threat classification dictates. | |
"We are making every effort to be as transparent and fair in our operations as possible." |
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