Detained abroad

[Coronawireless]

Hi there. A friend’s DH went to work abroad. Unknown to him his boss there was being investigated for financial irregularities. Friend’s passport was removed at the airport when he tried to leave and for the past 18 months he has not had it back. He hasn’t been charged with anything...just not allowed to leave. Family hasn’t seen him for 18 months and are increasingly worried. They have young children. They have contacted govt but not much action yet....seem to be leaving it to the family to sort out. The DW has hired a PR firm, started a twitter campaign. I assume has hired a decent lawyer. Anyone with experience of this kind of situation or any advice as to how best to proceed? Thanks!

Has he been in contact with the embassy? Are they helping? Which country is it?

Surely the embassy will he helping him? If he hasn't been charged with anything then the embassy wouldn't allow him to be trapped in the country.

How has it gone on for 18 months without our government doing anything? What steps have they actually taken?

Thus sort of thing would have made the news by now. I dint recognise the story so it sounds like they havent really told anyone what's going on.

The first thing they should have done was embassy for him and then the wife's local MP surgery every week; every single surgery until the MP started moving it up the chain.

18 months trapped abroad would have resulted in the family having a meeting with ministers/comment from the prime minister. Something isnt right in this.

This is the kind of thing I would expect their MP to pick up and advocate for them - have they visited their MP or contacted them? I'm not sure Twitter is going to achieve anything.

Is this Dubai?

They’re in Europe but not in the UK.
The other country is China.
I think they thought at first that the problem would resolve. But time has gone by and things haven’t changed. They have contacted MP equivalents and the matter has been raised in parliament but nothing done yet. Couple of small stories in the newspaper. Now they’re going to step things up. I don’t think the PR firm they’ve hired seems very active so far. I agree Twitter is ineffective. They should be on national TV etc
I’ve suggested an expert international negotiator - not that I know anything about it. The individual MPs may need advice on how to approach the issue and may be more willing to help if there is someone experienced to deal with.

This is a truly terrible situation for your friend to be in. Expert advice needed, not mumsnet. Especially as you don't seem to be sure what she has and hasn't done, so all we can do is throw out the obvious - which has probably been already covered. Given that it's China this is about as dire and complicated as it gets and a lot down to what the relations are like between her country and China. Not sure what you're expecting from mumsnet here.

No of course - just wondered if anyone had been through it. I remember a UK school friend when I was young - family had similar. It took them 4 years to get him home and that was with the UK govt taking a huge interest. Long road ahead for them I’m sure!

Well, it would have maybe been helpful to actually say in your OP that they family arent based in the UK. This is a UK based site, so the responses will be centred on assuming you are in the UK if you ask for ideas related to getting government action.

Mumsnet really isnt going to be much help, but I can understand simply reaching out and asking anyone because you're worried. However, you really need more information and you need to give that information to people when you ask for advice.

In lots of ways the country of origin isn’t relevant. The process of badgering MPs, getting media coverage, looking at the relationship between your country and China holds regardless of where you’re from. Several posters have jumped on this straight away for which I’m grateful - reinforces to the family that they need to step this up considerably. The UK is a much larger country than ours with a high level of travel and trade between it and China. So again - if anyone has had experience of this, (regardless of where they’re from), I’d love to hear from them. Thank you!

I would suggest she needs some kind of specialist support network for the families of people detained abroad - such a thing must exist - and she'll get support and advice from there. I would imagine though that each case is unique and that states who hold people are not following the international rule of law and protocols, so there is not going to be generic advice of much value. She needs to be in touch with a body of people with experience. Also what about Amnesty - as surely he's technically a political prisoner by now? Very worrying - I imagine Amnesty might be able to point her in the direction of support bodies. It's kind of you to be trying to help.

Amnesty good idea - thanks. And have also found Fair Trials International.
Disheartening to see that govts tend to be very slow to get involved in these issues. Understandable but disheartening.
The DW involved here is a very gentle, sweet sort of person. She’s going to need to become a lot more pushy!

The DW involved here is a very gentle, sweet sort of person this immediately reminded me of Alexander Litvinenko's wife, Marina, who seems to have, over the years, transformed from timid to an impressive and articulate and outspoken and tireless advocate for her poor husband and keeping his case - and related cases - in the spotlight. Even though he's now long dead she's never given up on her ideals of justice and responsibility. Could be an impressive role model for your friend. She's now something of a media go-to for such cases, for instance she was often interviewed when the Salisbury poisonings were current. I admire her enormously.