The wife of an Irish citizen who was detained by Iraqi authorities as he tried to return home to Dublin has issued a plea for help.

Yasser Eljuboori is originally from Iraq and is an Irish citizen who lives in Dublin with his wife Laura Wickham and their three young children.

He is a prominent anti-corruption activist who has previously written articles criticising the Iraqi Government.

Speaking to Newstalk this afternoon, his wife Laura said she has not been allowed to speak with him since he was detained at Baghdad Airport on Monday.

She said his family in Iraq have also not been allowed to speak with him; however, they have been informed that he is charged with defaming Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani through his anti-corruption posts on social media.

He is expected to appear before Iraq’s Court of Information and Publishing tomorrow.

Yasser Eljuboori. Image: Supplied

“I miss him,” said Ms Wickham.

“I am extremely worried but I am trying to just keep going and trying to get as much awareness as possible.

“But I’m so worried. I miss him, his kids miss him; we want him safe, we want him home.”

'Extremely worried'

She said she has been in touch with the Tánaiste Micheál Martin about Yasser’s case and she remains “really appreciative” of the help she is receiving from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“They can put pressure on the Iraqi Government to release him,” she said. “That’s what needs to happen.”

“They need to put pressure on the Iraqi Government to let him go. He is an Irish citizen who is being detained.

“He doesn’t have any representation there and he needs to be let go. I want him to come home.”

'I want him home'

She said Yasser has Iraqi legal representation; however, the Government is trying to get him an Irish lawyer.

“I’m not so aware of the political situation of it,” she said. “I’m relying on the Government to do that and hopefully they will do that.

“As the mother of his kids, I want him home. I am just doing everything I can to raise awareness to get Yasser home.”

With reporting from Tom Douglas.