Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is almost home as I write! She was detained in Iran six years ago as she prepared to fly back to England following a trip to see her parents in Tehran. She was accused of spying and later of plotting to bring down the Iranian government - typically trumped up charges. When Nazanin was detained, her daughter Gabriella was two years old; now she is almost eight. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, campaigned tirelessly and admirably for Nazanin's release.
There's a sense that she was like a pawn in a diplomatic cat and mouse game. Behind the scenes, there was the question of a large debt owed by the British government in relation to military tanks not delivered just prior to the Iranian revolution. Her case was made more problematic by the thoughtless remarks of Boris Johnson when he was Foreign Secretary back in the autumn of 2017. Typically, he had not done his homework.
Earlier today, as the prospect of Nazanin's release suddenly grew more real, he said, “It would not be sensible for me to comment until we have got a final result". That was a most apposite remark in the light of his previous costly blunder.
Anyway, in a time of war and anxiety, Nazanin's release is like a ray of sunshine. I hope that she and Richard and Gabriella can get back on track and resume their happy family life together even though that won't be easy after the nightmare they have been through.
Also released from detention in Iran today was Anoosheh Ashoori who similarly holds dual British-Iranian citizenship. He had gone back to Iran to visit his ageing mother in August 2017. Without evidence, the Iranian regime accused him of spying for Israel and stuck him in prison for five years.
Though his case has received far less publicity, his family have fought equally as hard for his release and the joy that they are experiencing tonight will match the happiness of the Ratcliffe family.
Nazanin and Anoosheh's aeroplane is scheduled to touch down at RAF Brize Norton in less than two hours.
Anoosheh Ashoori - British-Iranian civil engineer held in prison in Tehran for the past
four and a half years on trumped up charges of spying for Israel
This is excellent news yet I can't help feeling that the scars would run deep after such an experience. I can't even imagine.
ReplyDeleteIt will be very difficult to get back to "normal".
Deletethere have been some horrible experiences for individuals.
ReplyDeleteAnd around the world there are many more innocents languishing in jails.
DeleteWelcome home is about the only thing I can think of to say. I don't remember hearing about them in the news, it must have been too long ago, or was maybe just a one line mention.
ReplyDeleteWell - they are not residents of Australia.
DeleteI can not begin to imagine the anguish and desperation they and their loved ones must have gone through. Their lives will never be the same again, but at least now they are free.
ReplyDeleteNeither case made it to our main news here. Of the 15 minutes on TV every night at 8:00, 13 minutes are about the Ukraine war, one minute is about Covid and the last minute is some sports or other, mostly football.
I guessed that would be the case - in America and Australia too. That's why I explained some of the background.
DeleteThat is very good news to hear but in spite of very strong family connections, should they have chanced visiting Iran when it was clearly so unstable and unfriendly to westerners.
ReplyDeleteOf course many western Iranians travel back and forth with no problem. Nazanin and Anoosheh played the lottery and lost.
DeleteI cannot begin to imagine the sense of relief felt by both families.
ReplyDeleteNor can I Jacqui.
DeleteAS you say, excellent news in troubled times.
ReplyDeleteAnd it may signal better relations with Iran. After all, they have oil!
DeleteIt is wonderful to have such positive news in these depressing times, but then I ask "Why now?" It was also mentioned that the Iran nuclear agreement might be revivable. I hope I'm not being too cynical but could it be anything to do with the price of oil and gas.
ReplyDeleteYour suspicions seem justified Sherlock. Take that Putrid!
DeleteI agree -- it was very good news and so nice to have a bright spot in the otherwise dreary array of current events. As you've probably seem, there's a third guy, now, who's still in Iran -- a dual UK/American citizen who apparently Iran is treating as American and still holding hostage.
ReplyDeleteAt least that fellow is now out of prison on house arrest.
DeleteI thought the same what Tasker thought. Even Labour is saying England needs new nuclear power. I never thought they would change their tune. Sixty percent of Ireland's electricity is generated by wind power.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know whose buttocks fifty per cent of that wind power is coming from.
DeleteExcellent news, and what a relief for both families. It's difficult to imagine what heartache and suffering Nazanin and Anoosheh have experienced during their captivity.
ReplyDeleteSadly like Tasker, I feel cynical too. Not a humanitarian gesture, but to do with the price of gas and oil.
Perhaps we will never know the back story to this.
DeleteI have followed Nazanin's story from the beginning. Kudos to her wonderful husband for keeping her in the spotlight. I hope the three of them can go forward to a wonderful, happy life from here. They deserve it!
ReplyDelete