UK envoy urged to visit Zaghari-Ratcliffe on furlough

LONDON: The family of detained British-Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe have urged Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to order the UK’s ambassador to Tehran to visit her on furlough, amid fears that Iranian authorities plan to return her to prison.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been under house arrest in Tehran since being granted temporary release from prison in March.
She was released on furlough as part of Iran’s measures to combat the spread of coronavirus in its crowded prisons.
Her furlough expires on Wednesday, but prosecutors are refusing to provide information on whether her leave will be extended until that day.
Her family have implored Raab to personally request that Ambassador Rob Macaire visit her at home in a signal of solidarity before she is sent back to prison.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family, who were initially hopeful that her furlough could ease tensions and ultimately facilitate her release, have expressed concern that her return to prison could escalate tensions.
Her husband Richard Ratcliffe said: “This seems like brinksmanship. I fear an escalation for sure. Nazanin’s return (to prison) is the next step. Next step (after that) will be someone else getting convicted.”
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was given diplomatic protection in March 2019, but the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has yet to decide whether the ambassador will visit her.
An FCO spokesperson said: “We are in contact with Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family, and will continue to make decisions in line with what we believe will produce the best outcome.”
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a mother of one from Hampstead, London, was arrested at Tehran International Airport in 2016 on charges of plotting to overthrow the Iranian regime. She denies the charges.

UK envoy urged to visit Zaghari-Ratcliffe on furlough