Wife of Iraq hostage fears for his safety
Desree thanks Tanaiste for meeting her over plight of husband moved from jail
We were heartened by his advice and the time he took to meet us
DESREE PETHER ON MEETING WITH TANAISTE MICHEAL MARTIN
THE Irish wife of Iraq “hostage” Robert Pether has thanked the Tanaiste for meeting her amid new fears for her husband’s safety in a Baghdad jail.
Construction engineer Rob, 48, who is married to 52-year-old Desree Pether, from Co Roscommon, has been locked up since April 2021 in a €20million contract row between his Dubai-based employer and the Central Bank of Iraq.
The mum-of-three has revealed that her husband was suddenly moved last weekend out of his prison and the family had no idea of his whereabouts.
She also said that Micheal Martin recently met her to pledge fresh efforts to try to bring Rob home.
Desree added: “He was moved and we hadn’t heard from him and had no idea what conditions he was in. It took me back to the enforced disappearance when he was trapped, arrested and unlawfully imprisoned on April 7, 2021.
“We had no idea where he was or if he was even alive for days.
“We know where he is now, but the move was horrendous for us all.
“We didn’t know where he was for 72 hours over the weekend.
“He absolutely should never have been arrested and definitely shouldn’t still be imprisoned in Iraq, over 1,000 days later.
“He is still being used as a hostage in a dispute between his employer and the Central Bank of Iraq.”
Rob is originally from Australia but lives in Elphin, Co Roscommon, with wife and their three kids Flynn, 19, Oscar, 17, and Nala, nine. He was arrested in Iraq when he
went to a meeting to discuss stalled works on the new bank in Baghdad.
The UN’S Working Group on Arbitrary Detention claimed Rob was “forcibly disappeared” and called for his immediate freedom.
Desree fears for Rob’s health and worries that the melanoma – the most serious type of skin cancer – that he survived in 2005 has exhibited signs of returning.
The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Mirror that officials are in regular contact with the family.
Mr Martin said: “The conviction and imprisonment in Iraq of this person, who has an Irish family and is normally resident in Ireland, is a serious concern.
“There are good reasons to question the basis on which he was convicted.”
Roscommon–galway TD Claire Kerrane, who has been campaigning for Rob’s release, said: “We need to see every effort made to get him home.”
Desree last night thanked supporters like minister Martin and deputy Kerrane. She told the Irish Mirror: “I am super grateful.
“They have stood by me all this time and offered to do whatever they can to help myself and the children here in Ireland, but also Robert wherever possible.
“Myself, son Flynn and a family friend met with Mr Martin and he is a lovely, genuine man.
“We were heartened by his advice and the time he took to meet us.
“I hope that the Australian government will accept this offer of assistance and we can find a solution.”