Irish citizen and anti-corruption activist, Yasser Eljuboori, has safely returned to Dublin and been reunited with his family.
This comes after Eljuboori was detained at Baghdad Airport on Monday 26th February when he had initially intended on returning to Dublin.
The following day Eljuboori was told that a complaint had been made against him due to his anti-corruption campaign.
Eljuboori was remanded in custody until Thursday 29th February 2024, when he was released on bail by a Baghdad court but his passport and belongings were retained.
He was then informed that all charges against him had been dropped and that he could return home in the following days, Doughty Street Chambers confirmed.
However, on Sunday 3rd March 2024 when Eljuboori attended court to retrieve his passport he was informed that he faced two fresh charges against him.
Finally, on Tuesday 5th March 2024, Eljuboori received his passport and belongings back, and extensive efforts were made to secure his safe return to Dublin.
Irish citizen Yasser Eljuboori reunited with family at Dublin Airport.
His flight landed in Dublin Airport this morning, and Eljuboori is now spending time with his family and recovering from his ordeal.
Mr Eljuboori’s wife, Laura Wickham, who has led the #FreeYasser2024 campaign, said: “The past ten days have been a living nightmare for me, but most importantly for Yasser. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to support me and Yasser, and to bring him home to Dublin.
“I am very grateful to the Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD, for all he has done. He showed a personal interest and genuine concern for Yasser’s wellbeing and for our family. I thank everyone at the Department of Foreign Affairs who have helped so much, particularly the assistance of the Consular Directorate and the staff in the Embassy of Ireland in Jordan; and staff at the European Union Delegation to Iraq.
“A very, very special thank you to my spectacular lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who answered the phone to a desperate despairing wife at 1am on Tuesday morning and picked me up with open arms. She led and steered everything.”
“I am so proud to be Irish because of the interventions I have seen.”
Wickham added: “Thank you so much to barrister Tatyana Eatwell who worked with Caoilfhionn: she is a beautiful person, as well as being an expert in these desperate situations, and was a calm presence in the storm of this whole ordeal. I cannot thank my family enough. Johnny, Amy, Sally, Kate and my “Spanish sister,” Marga, my parents, and all our family – they are incredible.
“I think everyone I ever met in my life has contacted me to offer support and well wishes: people I know from every single stage of my life that I haven’t seen in years. It has meant so much and I will never forget it.”
Ultimately, however, Wicham thanked her husband, Yasser, saying: “And above all, to Yasser, I want to say that I am so happy he’s home with me and that this nightmare is over.
“I’ll never again take for granted the normal, everyday things: going for family walks, having TV time, playing with our kids on the ground. The kids are getting their dad back, and our house will have its life and soul again. Welcome home, Yasser.”
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