CEO responds to news that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces an additional charge

CEO RESPONDS TO NEWS THAT NAZANIN ZAGHARI-
RATCLIFFE FACES AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE

(London – September 8, 2020) The Thomson Reuters Foundation utterly condemns the latest move by the Iranian authorities to prolong Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s inhumane
and unjust ordeal.

Our colleague is innocent and remains unlawfully held hostage for crimes she has not committed.

We had welcomed our colleague’s temporary – albeit restricted – release from Evin Prison in Iran, where she had been illegally held on false charges since April 2016; an imprisonment recognised as unlawful by the UN.

We remain deeply concerned for Nazanin’s physical and mental wellbeing and for her family’s. Nazanin has already endured the unthinkable – coming close to completing a horrific five-year prison sentence, during which she was separated from her young
daughter and husband. Her mental and physical health has been at breaking point, and we had desperately hoped there might be an end in sight to her trauma.

Instead, she now faces a new charge – details of which remain hidden – following a secret appearance at the country’s revolutionary court today. She will reportedly face another trial this Sunday.

For how long must she be the innocent victim of an international dispute, at the mercy of a lawless country, denied process, justice and basic humanity?

The torture Nazanin continues to endure shows no sign of abating. Will the world sit back and watch as a woman remains incarcerated, isolated and broken for a crime she did not commit?

We are in constant contact with Nazanin and her husband Richard. Yet again, we remind the UK Government of the diplomatic protection afforded Nazanin and we urge the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP, to intervene promptly to secure her permanent release, and finally allow Nazanin the freedom she deserves to be with her loved ones.

Antonio Zappulla, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO