Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe prison leave extended as coronavirus outbreak continues
British-Iranian mother’s file also put forward to be considered for clemency, husband reveals
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has had her temporary leave from prison in Iran extended by two weeks, her husband has revealed.
The British-Iranian mother was among about 85,000 prisoners released from Evin prison in Tehran on 17 March as part of efforts to stop the rapid spread of coronavirus.
Richard Ratcliffe said his wife’s father had been told her two-week furlough had been extended until 18 April.
Her file has also been put forward to the Iranian prosecutor general to be considered for clemency, he added.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport in April 2016 while travelling to introduce her young daughter, Gabriella, to her parents.
The aid worker, from Hampstead, north London, was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations, which she denies, of plotting to overthrow the Tehran government.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was later given diplomatic protection by the UK government, which argues that she is innocent and that her treatment by Iran failed to meet obligations under international law.
She has been living at her parents’ house in Tehran since her temporary release but must wear an ankle tag and must stay within 300m of the property.
Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the latest development in her case as a “glimmer of hope amidst the darkness”.
“Let’s pray that this remarkable family are reunited soon,” he wrote on Twitter.
The family’s MP Tulip Siddiq tweeted that every day Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is out of prison is “better than the alternative”.
But she said that the main focus remained “getting her home and away from the danger of coronavirus in Iran as soon as possible”.
Iran is among the countries worst-affected by Covid-19 – reporting more than 29,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,200 deaths due to the infection.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments