Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, is not flying for fear of imminent arrest and extradition to Turkey where she faces 22 years in jail. The ex-wife of Prince Andrew is staying on the ground in Britain for fear she will be arrested on an international warrant after being charged by Turkish authorities last week all over a TV documentary she secretly filmed in 2008.
Sarah is accused of “breaking the law in acquiring footage and violating privacy” over the filming of five children in a shocking exposé of Turkish orphanages.
Fergie has been told by her lawyers that she can’t be extradited from her native UK where such filming is not considered a criminal offence. But legal experts say she could be arrested if she visits any country that has an extradition treaty with Turkey, such as the USA. Consequently the royal has now cancelled a planned trip to New York.
The Mirror Reports: In Duchess and Daughters: Their Secret Mission, Fergie and daughter Eugenie went undercover for ITV Tonight to examine the plight of Turkish orphans.
Disguised in a wig and headscarf she went to the Saray Institution near the capital of Ankara and filmed filthy, neglected disabled children who were tied to their beds.
At the time the Turkish government accused her of taking part in a “smear campaign” when they were hoping to join the European Union.
Chris Rogers, the reporter who travelled with the Duchess for the undercover trip, said: “Sarah and I witnessed children dressed in rags at Turkey’s Saray Institution, which had 700 unwanted, disabled youngsters shut up within its walls. There was a terrible stench of urine, sweat and vomit. We saw children tied to benches like dogs, women with their arms pinned behind their back and covered in faeces.”
Fergie’s spokesman said: “She is not traveling at the moment. She’s staying in the UK to sort this.” Good for Sarah Ferguson – we don’t believe in censorship – and especially not by a government trying to punish someone for exposing their abuses.