London, August 2 2016
STATEMENT FROM THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION CEO MONIQUE VILLA AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NAZANIN ZAGHARI-RATCLIFFE WILL BE TRIED IN TEHRAN:
“We have heard today that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been taken to court yesterday and will be prosecuted in Tehran’s Revolutionary Courts. Her case will be heard by Judge Salavati, who was in the past in charge of the trial of Washington Post Correspondent Jason Rezaian and other bi-nationals.
She should soon be able to see a lawyer for the first time in her four months of detention, including 45 days in solitary confinement. We do not know what the exact charges against her are.
Nazanin has been working at the Thomson Reuters Foundation for the past four years as a project coordinator in charge of grants applications and classroom training. The Thomson Reuters Foundation doesn’t offer digital training programs. In her professional capacity at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nazanin has never dealt with Iran and the Foundation has no dealings with Iran whatsoever.
Nazanin had travelled to Iran in a personal capacity, on a family holiday with her two-year-old-daughter Gabriella. Gabriella, whose British passport has been taken by the Guards, is under the care of her grand-parents in Tehran.
We are in permanent contact with Nazanin’s husband Richard, and have contacted all British authorities to intervene. We insist this matter should be resolved as soon as possible, not least given her precarious state of health”.
Monique Villa, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO
