Family of geologist facing death penalty in Iraq urges government

The family of a retired British geologist facing the death penalty in Iraq has called for the UK government to intervene immediately.

Jim Fitton, 66, was detained by authorities in the Middle Eastern country, accused of smuggling, during a geology and archaeology trip.

Fitton, who lives in Malaysia, and an unnamed German man were arrested when airport security discovered shards of broken pottery in their luggage as they tried to leave the country, according to his children.

They insist that he had been informed that the fragments had no economic or historical value to Iraq before they were collected at a site in Eridu on 20 March. After Eid al-Fitr is in Iraq, they say he will face trial in the week commencing May 8th.

His children Joshua and Leila and Leila's husband Sam Tasker say Fitton could receive the death penalty if found guilty and have launched a petition calling for the British government to intervene in the case.

We need the Foreign Office to intervene in his case, because we have days to save him before sentencing.

Our lawyer has drafted a proposal for the cessation of the case and the immediate repatriation of our father, which requires the backing of the Foreign Office to put it to the Iraqi judiciary. Tasker said Jim would often bring home small souvenirs from his trips to remember the journey and share his experiences with us. To him this was no more significant than bringing home a small stone from the beach to remember a special family holiday. The items are widely agreed to be valueless.

This is an offense that my father-in law is facing a potential death sentence under article 41 of Iraqi artefacts law no. He said the couple were arrested after the group's baggage was checked at the airport, with 12 shards said to have been found.

Tasker is a constituent of Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, who has raised the case in the House of Commons and urged ministers to respond to the incredibly serious issue.

Foreign Office Minister Amanda Milling, in a letter to Hobhouse, said: We understand the urgency of the case and have already raised concerns with the Iraqi authorities about the possible imposition of the death penalty in Mr Fitton's case.