The charges against Irish citizen Yasser Eljuboori have been dropped in Iraq; however, he has yet to be released.

Mr Eljuboori lives in Dublin with his wife Laura Wickham and their three young children.

He is originally from Iraq and was detained at Baghdad Airport earlier this week after he returned home to visit relatives.

Yasser Eljuboori with his wife Laura Wickham. Image: Supplied

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

After he was arrested, his family were told he was being charged with defaming Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani through his anti-corruption posts on social media.

Those charges have today been dropped and he has been released on bail.

The Iraqi authorities have retained his passport, however, and he has been informed that there are “two to three days of paperwork” to complete before he will be allowed to return home to his family in Dublin.

Speaking after the decision was announced his wife Laura said: “This is a step in the right direction but there is a long road still ahead to bring Yasser home to us in Dublin.

“It is wonderful news that the charges have been dropped, but I will not stop campaigning until Yasser is safely home in Dublin airport.

“I call on the Iraqi authorities to return Yasser’s passport urgently, end this ordeal and allow him to return home.”

Yasser Eljuboori. Image: Supplied

This afternoon, the Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin said he has held open and constructive talks with the Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr Fuad Hussein.

He said Dr Hussein assured him that he was “confident that Mr Eljuboori would be released following the waiving of charges against him”.

“I very much welcome the decision today in Baghdad to drop charges against Mr. Yasser Eljuboori, the Irish citizen who has been in detention since Monday,” said Minister Martin.

“This is naturally positive news for him, for his family and all those who know and cherish him.

“I know from speaking directly with Mr Eljuboori’s wife Laura, today and earlier in the week, just how difficult the past few days have been for her and their three young children.

“I hope today’s developments will go some way towards alleviating the stress they have been experiencing, but I understand that their deep worry will not ease until the moment they are reunited with Yasser in Dublin.”

The Tánaiste said his department would continue to “remain actively involved in the case” and continue to provide consular assistance until “Mr Eljuboori is reunited with his family in Dublin”.

Yasser Eljuboori and wife Laura Wickham. Image: Supplied

Mr Eljuboori lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC said he was being released after an agonising four days of unjust and arbitrary detention, and mistreatment.

“He should never have been arrested, detained or charged in the first place, and his family should never have been put through this ordeal,” he said.

He urged the Iraqi authorities to “ensure he is now able to leave the country safely and speedily and return to his home in Dublin”.