Kamal Foroughi, a dual-national prisoner, returns to the UK after 9 years

The British Foreign Office announced the release of British-Iranian citizen Kamal Foroughi after nine years in prison in Iran. His son, Kamran Foroughi, said his father joined his family in the UK about two weeks ago.

On Wednesday, April 1, Reuters news agency reported, citing the British Foreign Office, 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 when he was arrested in May 2011. Foroughi was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of “espionage.”

Kamal Foroughi's arrest sparked protests from many international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International.

Ahmad Shaheed, the former UN human rights rapporteur on Iran, had repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to release the imprisoned dual citizen from prison.

The Reuters report continues by stating that Kamal Foroughi was released from prison in late 2018, but was unable to join his family in Britain due to the failure to renew his Iranian passport.

Kamran Foroughi, the son of Kamal Foroughi, has announced that his father's Iranian passport was renewed about a month ago in February 2020 and he has legally returned to the UK.

Kamran Foroughi tweeted his gratitude for the efforts of international organizations to secure his father's release.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab expressed his satisfaction with Foroughi's return to Britain, saying that her return to the arms of her family had brought her peace of mind.

The British Foreign Secretary added that he paid tribute to Kamal Foroughi and his family for enduring the terrible ordeal, and that they now have the opportunity to rebuild their lives together.

Kamal Foroughi was not the only Iranian-British prisoner in Iran.

Nazanin Zaghari is another Iranian-British prisoner still in Iran.

Ms. Zaghari was arrested and imprisoned in April 2016 on charges of “espionage and disturbing public order” after traveling to Iran to visit her parents.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily released from Evin Prison due to the possibility of a coronavirus outbreak. Her leave was due to end on March 31. It is now said that her leave has been extended until mid-April of this year.

Source: DW