A Scottish dad who recently returned from Iraq after 70 days in a Baghdad prison has spoken of his experience being locked up with murderers and terrorists.
Brian Glendinning, from Fife, was the subject of a nationwide plea to free the 43-year-old after he was arrested for a debt owed to the Qatar National Bank.
Brian was detained at Basra International Airport after starting a new job on September 4 and says his family were asked to send tens of thousands of pounds in exchange for his freedom and survival.
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The Daily Record sat down the Brian for the first time since touching down at Edinburgh Airport last week to discuss the ordeal that he fears he will never be able to put behind him.
The dad-of-three recalled spending his nights hearing grown men squealing in pain as they endured beatings from prison staff. Brian said: "What I've been through mentally over the last few months is horrific. I was thrown in a tiny cell and forced to sleep next to murderers, rapists and terrorists.
"I heard guards battering the living daylights out of people. I can still hear the sounds of grown-men squealing in pain as the guards kicked them and whipped them with hoses.
"All my personal belongings were stripped of me. They took everything from me. Even my wedding ring. The conditions I lived in were vile and there were massive rats swarming the cell.
"I was also given hell for not having the same religious beliefs as the other inmates and hassled rigorously for not praying when they did. They told me my family needed to send £30,000 to pay for a lawyer, but I now know that was lies. They were trying to fleece me for every penny I had.
"My wife was even hassled by guards who managed to get her number from a call I made. Even to this day, they are still sending her messages asking her to send them pictures of herself."
The construction manager said he barley slept while locked up out of fear of what could happen if he closed his eyes. He added that a few people he met in prison were more considerate and "had his back."
He continued: "I met a few other men and they had my back. We would take turns sleeping so there was always someone watching what was happening around us. But I was constantly on high alert."
Brian said the scenes that followed his "shocking" arrest were "mental" as staff dragged him through the airport and accused him of drug smuggling. Brian said he knew nothing about the alleged debt owed to the bank and was shocked to discover there had been an Interpol Red Notice issued.
He said: "The arrest came as a complete shock to me. I had no idea what was going on at first. I was dragged through the airport before being thrown into a cell and interviewed for hours. At first the police were accusing me of being a drug smuggler, then they were telling me to give them my real passport. It was mental.
"They were taking pictures of me and laughing and joking. Then they started pulling me in for selfies. I had no idea what the hell was going on."
After the terrifying ordeal, Brian has vowed never to set foot in the Middle East again and said that he is sickened by the scene of celebrations in Qatar as the World Cup takes place in the country.
He added: "These countries are so corrupt. All they care about his money and being the wealthiest - Qatar in particular. That country has put me through hell. The fact the World Cup has been allowed to be held there is sickening. I'm refusing to watch it.
"There will be people who travel there that don't come home. I will never step foot back in the place and seriously warn others to reconsider accepting any job there."
Speaking about the bank loan which led to Brian's incarceration, he said he took it out while living in the country in 2016 due to the low-interest rates. He claimed he continued to pay the loan back until he was forced to give up his job in the country due to ill-health.
He added: "At first I thought it was just a misunderstanding and that I would be let go, but as time went on I realised it was serious.
"When they finally told me it was about the loan I had taken out I couldn't believe it. I was being treated like a criminal over a deferred bank payment."
Brian's family, Radha Stirling, an Interpol and extradition crisis consultant, and his local MP Douglas Chapman, have campaigned tirelessly for his release, with a third party coming forward to pay off his unpaid loan.
After months of hell he was finally allowed to fly home to Scotland last Saturday after QNB issued a clearance note stamped by Qatar authorities saying they no longer wanted Brian extradited.
Brian flew into Edinburgh Airport from Istanbul and was met by his emotional loved ones at the arrivals gate.
Brian added: "Seeing their faces and walking back into my house was overwhelming. I missed them all so much and to be finally back with them was an unbelievable feeling. There were days when I thought I couldn't continue and felt like I had enough, I couldn't handle it anymore, but I'm so glad I got through it.
"Without the support from my amazing family, I wouldn't have been freed. There are people still stuck inside for the same so-called crimes and have no sign of getting out. I honestly can't thank my wife Kimberley and my loved ones and the people of Kincardine for helping me through this. Everyone has been so generous to all of us. I'm just overwhelmed with the support."
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