France, Germany, and Britain Summon Iranian Ambassadors in Protest of Dual National Detentions and Human Rights Violations by the Regime
According to The Guardian newspaper, France, Germany, and Britain summoned Iranian ambassadors on Wednesday, September 24, in a coordinated protest action against the detention of dual nationals in Iran and the Islamic Republic’s treatment of political prisoners and human rights violations in the country.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Foreign Secretary also reacted to the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian citizen imprisoned in Tehran, to prison in Iran, describing the Iranian government’s action as contrary to international norms.
According to Reuters, Dominic Raab, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, in an interview with Sky News, while emphasizing the clear and immediate obligation of the Iranian regime not to detain British citizens, described returning Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to prison under current circumstances as “contrary to every norm.”
Meanwhile, Richard Ratcliffe, Mrs. Zaghari’s husband, says that as Nazanin’s sentencing period comes to an end, she is expected to be tried for a new case.
On the other hand, The Guardian reported on Tuesday, September 23, that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe complained to Tehran’s prosecution office of “harassment and abuse” by Revolutionary Guard officials. According to the newspaper, Guard agents went to Mrs. Zaghari’s parents’ home, where she is under house arrest, and mistakenly accused her of “breaking and removing her anklet.” Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was placed under house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet on bail following the outbreak of the coronavirus.
Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe worked with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which helps develop media outlets worldwide. She was detained by Revolutionary Guard officers at the airport in June 2016 while returning to London with her young daughter from Tehran. Mrs. Zaghari was sentenced to five years in prison after being tried on charges of participating in “soft regime change” of the Islamic Republic through collaboration with foreign institutions and companies.
The United States has repeatedly condemned the Islamic Republic regime’s actions of holding foreign nationals and Iranian dual nationals hostage for extortion and gaining concessions from other countries, and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Source: Voice of America
