US Citizen- Hostage in Qatar
Donation protected
My son, Robert Foster is being detained by the government of Qatar, and i need your help!
My son is a decorated Iraq war veteran who served three tours as a US Navy Corpsman with the US Marines in both Iraq and Kuwait. Continuing with good intentions, he signed a three-year contract with Hamad Medical Corporation and moved himself and his wife (Gabrielle "Pepper") to the Middle Eastern country of Qatar in March 2014. With aspirations of helping the people of Qatar, along with his emergency medical background as a flight paramedic, Robert was contracted as a Senior Operations Manager supervising Hamad's air-and-ground ambulance services.
After arrival in Qatar with only their personal belongins, Robert and his wife found it normal practice for employees to take out a personal loan with Qatar National Bank in order to acquire items needed to set-up a house and begin a new chapter in their life. Such loans are only approved if one has a legitimate in-country work contract that includes an agreed-upon salary. With this loan in place, in 2014 Robert began his job of helping the people of Qatar.
However, on January 25 of this year, in spite of his active work agreement, Robert was laid off from his job with Hamad Medical Coproration. His assets were immediately frozen with the Qatari bank, and because he still has debt within the country, he is now barred by their immigriation authorities to exit. I had the US State Department look into this situation this past week and they confirmed Robert's travel ban, but they could not confirm the nature of the ban.
Recently, the price of oil plummented below 25$ a barrel resulting in the Qatari government ordering a 25% work force reduction. Ignoring the pre-established contract, my son (along with 1000 others) is being laid off. Additionally, the local hospital laid off nearly 2,000 people, while Qatar Petroleum laid off nearly 3,000 employees. The list continues.
Restricted from securing other employment in Qatar, my son attempted to return to the United States with aspirations of gaining employment at home in order to pay off his debt, however he was forbidden to exit because of his debt. Robert knew that the bank had threatened him with arrest, but without a means to gain employment, the only rational alternative was to move to a place where his skills could be utilized.
With no acces to money and travel ban on his American passport, Robert is hostage in Qatar. Thankfully he was able to get my daughter-in-law out of Qatar, and arrived safely back in South Carolina this past week. She will continue to reside with me until we are able to free Robert.
Threatened with the looming prospect of being held prisoner for up to seven years, Robert is receiving no help from the government in Qatar.
Robert sold all of his home's furnishings and personal vehicle to help pay down his loan. Sadly, not much money was gained through this process because so many other residents of Qatar are in the same situation and are liquidating any assets they have to accommodate their hopeful exit from the country.
I have met with U.S. Representative Mark Sandford's office and emailed dozens of media outlets to help get the word out about my son's situation.
I am begging you to PLEASE consider a monetary donation to help us raise the funds needed to get my son home. I fear that i may never see him again if he is incarcerated in a foreign country. The total amount of contributions will be sent in one transaction to Qatar National Bank.
ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN DONATE, no matter how large or small, is very much appreciated.
THANK YOU!
My son is a decorated Iraq war veteran who served three tours as a US Navy Corpsman with the US Marines in both Iraq and Kuwait. Continuing with good intentions, he signed a three-year contract with Hamad Medical Corporation and moved himself and his wife (Gabrielle "Pepper") to the Middle Eastern country of Qatar in March 2014. With aspirations of helping the people of Qatar, along with his emergency medical background as a flight paramedic, Robert was contracted as a Senior Operations Manager supervising Hamad's air-and-ground ambulance services.
After arrival in Qatar with only their personal belongins, Robert and his wife found it normal practice for employees to take out a personal loan with Qatar National Bank in order to acquire items needed to set-up a house and begin a new chapter in their life. Such loans are only approved if one has a legitimate in-country work contract that includes an agreed-upon salary. With this loan in place, in 2014 Robert began his job of helping the people of Qatar.
However, on January 25 of this year, in spite of his active work agreement, Robert was laid off from his job with Hamad Medical Coproration. His assets were immediately frozen with the Qatari bank, and because he still has debt within the country, he is now barred by their immigriation authorities to exit. I had the US State Department look into this situation this past week and they confirmed Robert's travel ban, but they could not confirm the nature of the ban.
Recently, the price of oil plummented below 25$ a barrel resulting in the Qatari government ordering a 25% work force reduction. Ignoring the pre-established contract, my son (along with 1000 others) is being laid off. Additionally, the local hospital laid off nearly 2,000 people, while Qatar Petroleum laid off nearly 3,000 employees. The list continues.
Restricted from securing other employment in Qatar, my son attempted to return to the United States with aspirations of gaining employment at home in order to pay off his debt, however he was forbidden to exit because of his debt. Robert knew that the bank had threatened him with arrest, but without a means to gain employment, the only rational alternative was to move to a place where his skills could be utilized.
With no acces to money and travel ban on his American passport, Robert is hostage in Qatar. Thankfully he was able to get my daughter-in-law out of Qatar, and arrived safely back in South Carolina this past week. She will continue to reside with me until we are able to free Robert.
Threatened with the looming prospect of being held prisoner for up to seven years, Robert is receiving no help from the government in Qatar.
Robert sold all of his home's furnishings and personal vehicle to help pay down his loan. Sadly, not much money was gained through this process because so many other residents of Qatar are in the same situation and are liquidating any assets they have to accommodate their hopeful exit from the country.
I have met with U.S. Representative Mark Sandford's office and emailed dozens of media outlets to help get the word out about my son's situation.
I am begging you to PLEASE consider a monetary donation to help us raise the funds needed to get my son home. I fear that i may never see him again if he is incarcerated in a foreign country. The total amount of contributions will be sent in one transaction to Qatar National Bank.
ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN DONATE, no matter how large or small, is very much appreciated.
THANK YOU!
Organizer
Pepper Lüdtke Foster
Organizer
Saint Helena Island, SC