CEO responds to news that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been released on furlough

CEO RESPONDS TO NEWS THAT NAZANIN ZAGHARI-
RATCLIFFE HAS BEEN RELEASED ON FURLOUGH

The Free Nazanin Campaign has confirmed that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been released on furlough for two weeks from Evin Prison in Iran, where she has been illegally held since April 2016.

Just two weeks ago, her family feared she had fallen victim to the rapid spread of Coronavirus inside the prison, due to a lack of precautions, testing, or hygiene materials.

Nazanin’s movements for the next fortnight will be severely restricted to 300m from her parents’ home in Tehran, and she will be required to wear an ankle tag.

Whilst we welcome Nazanin’s temporary release from the inhumane confines of jail, this latest move represents nothing less than continued incarceration for a crime she did not commit. This terrible chapter of Nazanin’s ordeal is ongoing.

During this time of unprecedented global turmoil, Nazanin remains separated from her husband and daughter, with no indication of when she can ever be reunited with them. Yet again, we call on the UK Government not to lose sight of her plight at this time, and to do everything it can to secure her permanent release and allow her to be with her loved ones.

– Antonio Zappulla, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO