A primary school teacher has been stuck in prison in Kuwait for months despite being cleared of a drugs charge.
Sara Assayed, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, has been living in Kuwait City since she was 17.
The 35-year-old was jailed for 10 years in March 2021 after drugs were allegedly found in her car and following a 30 minute "sham" trial, Wales Online reports.
Despite being cleared on appeal last month, she remains in jail.
Her family are desperately pleading with the UK Government for help to get Sara out of prison and back to Wales.
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Her sister Sheree said the family is becoming more and more concerned as time goes on.
She said: "She told me if she doesn't get out she's going to commit suicide. Her mental health is in a state."
In March 2019, Sara was travelling home with a colleague after running an evening class for disabled children when she was stopped by police.
They arrested her on a drug-related offence and confiscated her car, leaving her friend to get a taxi home.
Sara was initially remanded in custody for four months until her family managed to get her released on bail, leaving her to wait in Kuwait for the trial after her passport was taken.
At this point, Sheree contacted the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), who liaised with the British Embassy to put the family in contact with an employee.
Sheree explained the embassy employee's English isn't at a level where the two can communicate effectively, and any attempts to speak to the ambassador directly over the phone was rejected.
Sara's dad Ziad, who is an engineer, flew to Kuwait hoping to secure a meeting with the ambassador - but the family say he was turned down by the diplomatic chief's staff.
"We had totally no support from the British Embassy," Sheree said.
"The FCDO know her situation and they keep referring us to the British Embassy in Kuwait, the British Embassy in Kuwait keep referring us to the FCDO in London."
The situation then became complicated by the coronavirus outbreak, which caused Sara's case to be postponed.
In December 2020 Sara faced what her family say was an "unfair" trial which saw her found guilty of a drug offence and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sheree explained: "It was an unfair trial. She tried to bring a witness, the girl in the car, the lawyer brought the witness to court and she wasn't allowed to speak."
Sara was also not allowed to take the stand or speak in her own trial, which lasted less than thirty minutes before the judge passed down the guilty sentence.
After trying and failing to get the embassy to help them, the family managed to hire another lawyer in Kuwait, who secured an appeal in February 2021.
Sara had been in jail for three months at this point.
"In one hour the lawyer was able to provide enough evidence that my sister was framed and there were no drugs involved," Sheree said.
Inaccuracies between police reports, as well as various drug tests and telephone records, were used to prove Sara had never been involved with drugs.
Her guilty verdict was overturned on February 15, but she was informed that she had to be deported regardless.
"We're fine with her coming home," Sheree explained.
"We don't want her working there after what has happened to her."
However, when Sara was sent to the deportation centre the British Embassy had no details pertaining to her deportation and after two days she was sent back to prison to await deportation.
Sara was placed in isolation due to the Covid pandemic, where she was kept with no pillows or blankets for fourteen days.
The family were told to hire further lawyers to organise deportation letters, only for the recommended legal advocates to inform the family that these papers are the responsibility of the embassy.
They have now paid around £20,000 in legal fees.
"It has been horrific," the sister continued.
"My mum has been so ill. It has been frustrating because the communication with FCDO has been so limited.
"It's frustrating that my father, who has diabetes, booked a ticket and travelled all the way out there and was still not allowed into the Embassy.
"My sister, while she was on bail, walked to the Embassy on foot and they wouldn't let her in or support her.
"I feel the UK Government, and the system, have failed us."
Sheree has now launched a petition in an attempt to ensure the safe return of her sister.
Sara's family are now pleading with the UK Government to push for Sara's release and safe return home.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are assisting a British national who is detained in Kuwait and are in touch with their family and the local authorities."
