Robert Pether was detained in Iraq in 2021 and his family feared he would die in jail. Now he’s coming home
Australian engineer Robert Pether has been released from an Iraqi prison after being detained for four years following a business dispute. The Australian government confirmed his departure from Baghdad and expressed relief at the resolution of the case.
Why it matters
Highlights the resolution of a long-standing diplomatic and consular case involving the detention of a foreign national.
Robert Pether, an Australian engineer, was jailed in Baghdad following a business dispute between his employer and the Iraqi government. Photograph: Suppied Robert Pether, an Australian engineer, was jailed in Baghdad following a business dispute between his employer and the Iraqi government. Photograph: Suppied Australia news Robert Pether was detained in Iraq in 2021 and his family feared he would die in jail. Now he’s coming home Australian foreign minister welcomes Iraqi government’s decision to allow engineer to leave Baghdad
Follow our Australia politics live blog for latest updates
Get our new political email , free app or daily news podcast
Prefer the Guardian on Google Australian engineer Robert Pether has been allowed to leave Iraq after a four-year stint in a Baghdad jail cell that his family feared was going to kill him.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in