By AP
DETROIT –
A prominent Arab-American businessman from Michigan who says he's an "economic hostage" in Qatar has enlisted U.S. lawmakers and diplomats to help him leave the Persian Gulf nation.
Forty-six-year-old Nasser Beydoun says he plans to meet Sunday with the U.S. ambassador to Qatar. Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow also sent a letter to the Qatari Embassy in Washington to press for his release.
Beydoun joined a Qatari investment group in 2007 to open restaurants in the Middle East. The U.S. citizen from Dearborn says he's been unable to leave for more than a year because of a dispute with his former employer but has prevailed in a labor case and two appeals.
The Associated Press sent e-mails to company executives. Qatari officials didn't respond to requests for comment.