Minister asked to help man jailed in Qatar over cannabis grinder
● Project manager says he bought item in a shop as a joke gift for a friend
The Foreign Secretar y has been urged to inter vene to help a young Scottish man stuck in a Greek jail over a cannabis grinder found in his luggage in Qatar last year.
Eas t Lot hi a n MP Kenny Macaskill, has called on the Foreign Secretary to help in the case of Tranent man Conor Howard, 27.
Mr Howard bought the £ 10 device legally from a shop in Australia almost a year ago, and insists it was a joke gift for a friend.
But during his l ayover i n Qatar on his return trip to S c o t l a n d i n Oc t o b e r, t h e 27- year- old was detained and questioned for six hours by
officials who found the grinder in his hand luggage.
Mr Howard t hought hi s brush with Middle Eastern j ust i c e was over when he was eventually all owed t o return to Scotland, but was then detained in Greece in late August this year when he attempted to join his parents on a holiday in Corfu.
U n b e k n o w n s t t o M r Howard, Qatari officials had placed him on an international most- wanted list in July, and the project manager is languishing in a Greek jail, facing extradition.
No w h i s l o c a l MP, Me Macaskill, has called on the Foreign Secretar y, Dominic Raab, to “push harder and f ast e r ” t o get Mr Howard home. “I’ve had a conversation with a minister,” Mr Mcaskill said. “I appreciate that there are sensitivities because we’re dealing with the Qatar government, but I do think we have to push harder and faster, which is why I’m seeking a meeting with Dominic Raab the Foreign Secretary.
“The Gre e k s d o r e q ui r e to accept the warrant that’s issued, it’s Qatar that’s issued this warrant and i t’s Qatar that’s got to solve this problem.
“I cannot for the life of me see why they would wish to have Conor back in their custody. He’s not committed any criminal offence, and even if they view this as something that they disapprove of, it is so trivial, it cannot merit sending Qatari police officers and a plane to Corfu to bring him back to Qatar.
“I do think the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has to push further and harder for a British citizen detained in custody, for no reason whatsoever” he finished.
Speaking f r om Corfu, Mr Howard’s mother Adele and step f ather Rober t Young, described the situation as a “nightmare”. “It’s so surreal,” said Mr Young, “We’ve only seen him through prison bars so far. The political side of it is crazy.”
A Foreignoffice spokesperson said: “We are supporting Mr Howard and his family following his arrest in Corfu. Our staff have spoken to Conor to help him access legal advice and are also keeping Mr Macaskill up to date.”
“We’ve only seen him through prison bars so far. The political side of it is crazy”
ROBERT YOUNG