Tranent engineer warned Greece is under growing pressure to extradite him over cannabis grinder

A young engineer facing extradition to Qatar over a cannabis grinder bought for a joke present could lose his freedom as Greece strengthens ties with the Gulf state, his lawyer has warned.

Conor Howard

Project manager Conor Howard, 27, was detained by the Greek authorities in August when he flew to Corfu to see his mother and step-father.

He later discovered that Qatar had jailed him for a year in his absence for having hemp oil after officials found the £10 grinder in his luggage in Doha last October during a stop-over on his way home from working in Australia.

Mr Howard was released following an initial extradition hearing in September but is banned from flying home to Scotland until the case is finally decided.

Conor Howard was held over a cannabis grinder

Now, his lawyer has warned that a developing relationship between Greece and Qatar has increased the stakes and could see the Scot flown there in chains and imprisoned.

Radha Stirling, of campaign group Detained in Dubai, said: “The family have been told to expect Conor’s extradition as Greece solidifies diplomatic ties and is more likely to comply with requests, even if compliance violates human rights.

“Qatar is one of Interpol’s biggest abusers, misusing the system as a means to harass, extort or punish foreign nationals. Extradition proceedings are initiated by Qatar, not because there is any genuine expectation of success, but for other more sinister reasons.

“Given the number of frivolous Interpol red notices issued by Qatar, Interpol should already have suspended the nation’s membership and Greece should never have been put in the awkward position of unfairly detaining and prosecuting a British national at their own cost, on behalf of a wealthy Gulf state."

Warning: Solicitor Radha Stirling

Ms Stirling added: “I have put the Greek courts on notice that I will be giving expert testimony to show Mr Howard’s human rights would be violated in the event of his extradition and Greece has an obligation and a duty of care, to protect Conor Howard.

"Although Conor has been finally granted bail, Greece has allowed Qatar until November 4 to present further evidence, meaning Conor is not allowed to return to Scotland and still risks being extradited to a desert prison."

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