Oil worker held in Iraq over alleged bank debt is freed

A BRITISH oil worker who was held in an Iraqi prison over an alleged bank debt has been freed, human rights campaigners have said.

Brian Glendinning, 43, a construction engineer from Kincardine in Fife, Scotland, was contracted to work at a BP oil refinery in Iraq.

But on Sept 12 Mr Glendinning was arrested at Baghdad airport on an Interpol red notice issued from Qatar over an alleged debt to the Qatari National Bank

Radha Stirling, founder of the Interpol and Extradition Reform initiative, said she was “thrilled” at his release.

“Mr Glendinning’s lawyer Tahseen Alchaabawi gave us the good news this morning. It was an emotional moment for his family and I couldn’t be happier for the Glendinnings,” she said.

Ms Stirling said Mr Glendinning’s family are currently arranging flights and it is hoped he could be back home in Scotland as soon as tonight.

However, Ms Stirling said Qatar had not confirmed if the Interpol red notice had been removed, so there could still be a risk that Mr Glendinning could be arrested en route back home.