British man could face execution in Iraq over smuggling allegations

A retired British geologist is at risk of facing the death penalty after being accused of attempting to smuggle historic artefacts, according to his family.

UK ministers have faced calls to intervene to help “make a difference” in the case of Jim Fitton, 66, who has been detained in Iraq.

Father-of-two Mr Fitton, who lives in Malaysia, was held over smuggling allegations during his first visit to the country for a geology and archaeology tour.

His children – Joshua and Leila, and Leila’s husband Sam Tasker – say in a petition launched to press the UK Government to act: “Whilst on the tour, our father visited historical sites around Iraq, where his tour group found fragments of stones and shards of broken pottery in piles on the ground.

“These fragments were in the open, unguarded and with no signage warning against removal.

“Tour leaders also collected the shards as souvenirs at the site in Eridu. Tour members were told that this would not be an issue, as the broken shards had no economic or historical value.”

It added: “We think that our father may be put on trial the week commencing May 8, after Eid in Iraq.

“We have days to save him before sentencing and we need the Foreign Office to help by intervening in his case now. Our lawyer has drafted a proposal for cessation of the case and the immediate repatriation of our father, which requires the backing of the Foreign Office to put to the Iraqi judiciary.”

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: “We are providing consular support to a British national in Iraq and are in contact with the local authorities.”

Jim Fitton with his wife Sarijah and daughter Leila.