Ireland – Irish Mirror, Sept. 07, 2025
Robert Pether was arrested in Baghdad in April 2021 amid a €20 million contract row between his Dubai-based employer and Iraq’s Central Bank.
The family of a man illegally held in Iraq have set up a fundraising page to help finance his existence there and fight for his freedom.
Engineer Robert Pether, who is from Co Roscommon, was trapped arrested and been illegally detained in Iraq since April 2021.
His wife, Desree has been campaigning tirelessly for his release, while caring for their three children. But the family find themselves almost destitute after using all their resources trying to help Peter.
Desree said yesterday they have been abandoned by Robert’s former employer who was involved in a contract dispute with the Iraqi authorities.
She said: “We need help to fight for Rob. We’ve just been existing. We’ve paid out nearly €70,000 in legal expenses in the past 12 months.
“We’re paying for very basic safe accommodation for Robert in Iraq since his release from prison. Very expensive. He was released but not free. At this stage homelessness for him is imminent.
