A Scottish dad's Iraq prison nightmare is finally over after landing safely in Edinburgh to be greeted by his family on Saturday.
Brian Glendinning, from Fife, has been the subject of a nationwide plea to get him released from a prison in Iraq after being detained for 70 days due to a supposed unpaid debt.
The 43-year-old was arrested in Basra International Airport on September 4 after arriving in the country for a new job. Brian allegedly owed a debt of around £20,000 to the National Bank of Qatar.
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Last week, the bank issued a clearance note stamped by Qatar authorities saying they no longer wanted Brian extradited and he was freed later, as the Daily Record reports.
After months of "hell" in prison, he flew into Edinburgh Airport on Saturday morning where he was greeted by his family and dozens of the country's press
Brian was met by his mother, Meta; his wife, Kimberly; daughters Heidi and Lexi; and his brothers John and Lee at Edinburgh after returning to Scotland on a flight from Istanbul.
Speaking to journalists at the airport, Brian said: "I just didn't think this time was coming anytime soon."
The construction worker added he was now "back where I belong with my family and my friends".
He said: "It's just the emotions. I didn't think I was going to be here anytime soon."
Brian thanked all those who had supported him and worked to get him freed - including Radha Stirling, founder of the Interpol and Extradition Reform (Ipex) initiative, and Mr Chapman who was also at the airport to greet him.
"If it wasn't for the support from everybody back home, my family and my friends, Douglas Chapman, Radha Stirling, I would still have been there," Mr Glendinning said.
"To be honest, I think I would have been on my way to Qatar and it wouldn't have been for the World Cup."
Brian was reportedly kept in "vile" conditions while in prison according to his brother John who said he was unable to shave and could only use a single communal shaver in the jail.
John told the Daily Record that he cried tears of joy after receiving a surprise phone call from Brian's lawyer to say he was being freed.
He added: "It's the moment we have been dreaming of for the nine weeks. We're absolutely buzzing to see him."
"He told me that Brian would be released later today and I'm delighted to say now that he has been. I had the pleasure of breaking the news to his wife Kimberly and my parents.
"It's all we've been dreaming of over the last nine weeks. We were all so emotional. I cried tears of joy, I was just so relieved and happy.
"A huge weight has been lifted off all of our shoulders. When I seen his name and number appear on my phone after his release I couldn't quite believe it. I honestly didn't think I'd see him phoning me again."
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