United Front of Families of Dual National Prisoners Against Islamic Republic Hostage-Taking

This year on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in addition to politicians’ meetings, a new development is taking place: the “Alliance of Families Against Government Hostage-Taking” is announcing its existence, an alliance whose goal includes defending dual national prisoners in Iran.

Families of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other foreigners or dual Iranian nationals whose relatives are imprisoned in Islamic Republic prisons have formed a group to defend their imprisoned loved ones.

In a statement released on this matter, it was announced that on Tuesday, the 2nd of Mehr (September 24), this alliance will begin its work. For this purpose, a number of activists of this alliance will announce their plans on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York and answer journalists’ questions.

Based on what was stated in the statement, the most important goals of this alliance are: efforts to draw greater international attention to the phenomenon of government hostage-taking, holding accountable those who engage in such actions, pressuring governments to take action against government hostage-taking, pressuring UN officials to prevent such actions, and raising awareness about the situation of the hostages.

The introduction ceremony of the alliance of families will be broadcast live on the Free Nazanin Facebook page.

A Multinational Alliance

The aforementioned alliance will not be limited only to “government hostage-taking” in Iran, but anyone who has faced or still faces such a problem anywhere in the world can become a member and participate in it.

Former government hostages and their relatives have also been invited to cooperate.

In the alliance’s statement, Richard Ratcliffe (husband of Nazanin Zaghari), Nizar Zakka, Anna Deymond Aba Atash, Saeed Abedini, Ali Rezaian (brother of Jason Rezaian), Maryam Malekmpur (sister of Saeed Malekpour), Babak Namazi (brother of Siamak Namazi and son of Baquer Namazi), Vida Mehrannia (wife of Ahmad Reza Jalali), and Hua Qu (wife of Xiyue Wang) are mentioned.

Last year, coinciding with the UN General Assembly session, Nazanin Zaghari’s family continued its efforts in New York to secure her release from the Islamic Republic’s prison. For this purpose, a roundtable discussion was held and her husband provided information about her situation.

Nazanin Zaghari’s Uncertain Status

Nazanin Zaghari traveled to Iran in April 2016 with her daughter to visit her family, but was arrested at Tehran’s “Imam Khomeini” Airport and was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “cooperation with Western intelligence organizations.”

Nazanin Zaghari is an employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. She, her family, the British government, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation—which is a charitable and independent institution separate from Thomson Reuters and the Reuters news agency—have rejected and denied the allegations as baseless.

The “Free Nazanin Campaign” reported in July that Ms. Zaghari was transferred on July 24 (July 15) from Evin Prison in Tehran to “Imam Khomeini” Hospital and underwent treatment.

Zaghari’s father, who went to the hospital to visit his daughter, was unable to see her. Officials told him that the patient is being held in the psychiatric ward of the hospital under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

It is reported that Nazanin Zaghari is not allowed contact with her relatives and lawyer.

Source: DW