Kamal Foroughi, Dual National Prisoner, Returns to Britain After 9 Years
The British Foreign Ministry announced the release of Kamal Foroughi, a British-Iranian citizen, after nine years of imprisonment in Iran. His son, Kamran Foroughi, said that his father joined his family in Britain approximately two weeks ago.
Reuters reported on Wednesday, April 1st (13 Farvardin), citing the British Foreign Ministry, that Kamran Foroughi, a dual national prisoner, returned to Britain after nine years.
Kamal Foroughi is 80 years old and was working as a business consultant in Tehran at the time of his arrest in May 2011. Foroughi had been sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of “espionage.”
Kamal Foroughi’s detention sparked protests from numerous international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International.
Ahmad Shaheed, the former UN human rights rapporteur on Iran, had repeatedly called on Iranian officials to release this dual national prisoner from prison.
According to the Reuters report, Kamal Foroughi was released from prison in late 2018 but was unable to join his family in Britain due to the non-renewal of his Iranian passport.
Kamran Foroughi, Kamal Foroughi’s son, announced that his father’s Iranian passport was renewed approximately one month ago in February 2020, and he has legally returned to Britain.
Kamran Foroughi tweeted his thanks for the efforts of international organizations in securing his father’s release.
Dominic Raab, British Foreign Secretary, expressed satisfaction with Foroughi’s return to Britain, saying that his return to his family has brought them peace of mind.
The British Foreign Secretary added that he pays his respects to Kamal Foroughi and his family for enduring a terrible ordeal, and now they have the opportunity to rebuild their lives together once again.
Kamal Foroughi was not the only Iranian-British prisoner in Iran.
Nazanin Zaghari is another Iranian-British prisoner currently in Iran.
Ms. Zaghari was arrested in April 2016 after traveling to Iran to visit her parents, and was imprisoned on charges of “espionage and disturbing public order.”
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily released from Evin Prison due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Her temporary release was set to end on March 31st. It is now reported that her release has been extended until mid-April of the current year.
Source: DW
