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Free Nazanin Campaign
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman imprisoned in Iran, has been told that she must face another trial.
The charity worker is nearing the end of her five-year sentence on espionage charges, which she has always denied.
The new charge against him has not been made public.
Iranian state media said she was brought before a revolutionary court in the country’s capital, Tehran, on Tuesday morning.
Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 while traveling to visit her parents with their young British-born daughter, Gabriella.
The dual national was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of conspiring to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denies.
- What is the Zaghari-Ratcliffe case about?
Earlier this year, he received a temporary prison license due to the coronavirus outbreak and has been living at his parents’ home with an ankle tag.
‘Worrying development’
Before her arrest, Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe lived in London with her husband Richard.
His deputy, Tulip Siddiq, said he had spoken with Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe. “I have contacted Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and I can confirm that she was taken to court this morning and told that she will face another trial on Sunday,” he said.
“I know that a lot of people are concerned about their well-being and will keep you posted when we have more information.
“This is an extremely worrying development and I know that many people are concerned for Nazanin’s well-being.”
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The deputy added: “The last four years have been unbearable for her husband Richard and their daughter Gabriella, who is growing up without a mother.
“The United Nations has recognized Nazanin’s imprisonment as arbitrary and illegal, and any other court case is clearly unacceptable.”
Debt with Iran
Ratcliffe has previously expressed fears that he may face a second court case when his sentence ends.
She said she and other dual citizens are being held hostage because Iran wants the UK to pay off a decades-long debt for an arms deal that was never honored.
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Human rights group Amnesty International said the Iranian authorities appeared to be “playing cruel political games with Nazanin”.
“Nazanin has already been convicted once after a deeply unfair trial, and there should be no doubt that she will go through that ordeal again,” said the charity’s British director, Kate Allen.
“As a matter of absolute urgency, the UK government should make new representations on Nazanin’s behalf, seeking to eliminate any suggestion of a second trial.”
Ms. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family and the UK government have always maintained her innocence and the Foreign Office has provided her with diplomatic protection, meaning the case is treated as a formal legal dispute between Britain and Iran. .
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