Bulletin No.15

Written By University of Manchester LWOB Student Division

Discussion - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Following the news that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been released from Iranian prison after 6 years of detention, we aim to discuss both her story and the integrity behind her sentencing justification in Iran. 

Nazanin is a British-Iranian citizen who was arrested in Iran in 2016 by the Revolutionary Guard, separated from her 2 year old daughter at the airport as she was returning to the UK.

She was employed as a charity worker and had previous experience in journalism, her detention justified by the Iranian Government on charges of espionage for the British Government - ‘spying’. Iran has maintained that Nazanin was involved in ‘plotting to topple the Iraninan regime’, an accusation that she and the UK authorities have always denied. 

Nazanin then endured solitary confinement in Iran for almost a year, with access to her lawyer denied. She was sentenced to a further five years of imprisonment in 2016 on a charge of national security. 

The trial in Iran was described as ‘grossly unfair’ by Amnesty International, with the evidence used to convict her kept secret. Nazanin reportedly told family members that Iran would release her without conviction if the British Government reached an ‘agreement’ - Human Rights Pulse describes this as ‘hostage diplomacy’, which runs contrary to principles of the Rule of Law. 

Her sentence nearing its end in 2021, Nazanin was told that she faced a second charge of ‘spreading propaganda against the Iranian system’. She was found guilty and sentenced to a further year in prison. Again, no evidence was provided to support this conviction.

Nazanin’s health was reported as declining dramatically whilst detained. Her husband described her treatment as ‘a gratuitous waste of human life’. Amnesty International states that Nazanin was ‘used as a bargaining chip at the hands of an authority playing cruel political games with her life’.

Upon recent release, Nazanin describes having ‘given up hope’ with the British Government's response. Whilst they described Iran’s detention of dual nationals as unlawful, Iran does not recognise the existence of dual nationals, thus defends cases such as Nazanin’s as ‘purely domestic’ and subject only to Iranian law. This deprives prisoners from diplomatic access and consular assistance.

Human Rights Pulse is critical of the lack of adequate framework in International Law to prevent ‘human rights, liberty and dignity’ being used as bargaining chips by powerful Governments.

In 2021, Nazanin won the Courage Under Fire prize at the Magnitsky Human Rights Awards for her ‘courage against Human Rights violations’.


How can I get involved?

Externally

  • Alliance of Families Against State Hostage Taking - A campaign launched in 2019 by families of those detained in Iran with the aim of putting pressure on the United Nations to take more action against hostage bargaining. The group also aims to raise awareness, Nazanin’s husband being a founding member and avid campaigner.

  • Those still protesting their innocence in Iran include: Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, Siamak Namazi, Nahid Taghavi and Ahmad Reza Jalali.

  • The Centre for Human Rights in Iran works to promote Human Rights Issues in the country, and frequently publish campaigns and articles on the plight of those detained. You can sign up to their newsletter and donate on their website here: https://www.iranhumanrights.org

  • Amnesty International - As part of their fight for justice and dignity, Amnesty works to support and raise awareness of those unlawfully detained across the world as hostages. You can read about the cases of detainee’s on their website: https://www.amnesty.org.uk

  • You can get involved via membership, fundraising, protesting or taking personal action, whatever it’s scale: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/get-involved

Internally:

Charity Spotlight

The UK is currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, a rights issue as it threatens ‘poverty, inequality and destitution’ (JustFair). 

Energy costs are expected to rise by 50%, with food cost inflation rising by 5%. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research predicts a 30% rise in destitution due to the impact that such costs will have amongst the poorest in society.

JustFair suggests that the cost-of-living crisis risks infringing upon the Article 9 right to social security and the Article 11 right to an adequate standard of living if the Government does not take action.

Turn2us are a charity fighting UK poverty. In light of the crisis they offer help and advice, as well as information about grants, schemes, and techniques to cut costs. They offer a one-on-one advisor system for those struggling, which is strengthened through volunteers and donations to the charity.



University of Manchester LWOB Student Division
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