Boris Johnson’s actions as foreign secretary prolonged Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s ordeal in Iran, Keir Starmer has said.
In 2017 the now prime minister wrongly stated that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been “simply teaching people journalism” while visiting the Middle East country.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian national, had in fact been visiting family while on holiday.
Labour leader Starmer said: “The first thing I’d say is I think, like everybody else, it is fantastic to see Nazanin, Richard and their family reunited – just a very human emotion, I think, has poured out over the last few hours as we’ve seen those images.
“I’m sorry to say that the actions of the prime minister caused this to go on longer than it might otherwise have done and obviously there will be questions about that.”
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe arrived home in the UK on Wednesday to an emotional welcome from her family after her six-year ordeal in Iran.
She hugged and kissed her daughter Gabriella after landing on British soil.
Watch: Starmer – ‘Actions of Boris Johnson made Nazanin release go on for longer’
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 13:40
Recap: Why was Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe arrested? A timeline of her detention and sentence in Iran
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been freed from detention and has arrived back in the UK.
British-Iranian aid worker Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been detained for nearly six years in the country following her arrest at an airport in 2016.
My colleague Holly Bancroft has a timeline of her detention and jail sentence:
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 13:35
UK’s £400m debt repayment to Iran ‘won’t fund terrorism’, says minister after Nazanin release
The UK government’s £400m debt repayment to Iran has been “ring-fenced” for humanitarian aid and will not fund terrorism, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly has said.
The release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori from Iranian detention follows months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran – including the eventual payment of an outstanding debt owed by Britain to the regime.
Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has more details below:
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 13:20
ICYMI: Emotional moment Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugs her daughter after 2173 days ‘of hell’ in Iran
This is the emotional moment Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe broke down in tears as she hugged her seven-year-old daughter just minutes after arriving back on British soil.
The aid worker touched down at RAF Brize Norton alongside fellow British-Iranian detainee Anoosheh Ashoori shortly after 1am on Thursday, bringing her 2173 days “of hell” in Tehran to an end.
My colleague Chiara Giordano has the details:
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 12:40
Nazanin and Anoosheh’s families stuck two fingers up at the establishment – and won
Both families spoke out against the advice of the Foreign Office, ignoring the pleas of the diplomats lauded by Liz Truss, writes Cathy Newman.
Read Cathy’s full piece here:
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 12:15
Watch: Richard Ratcliffe’s parents speak of their pride in him after Nazanin finally returns home
Richard Ratcliffe’s parents speak of their pride in him after Nazanin finally returns home
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 11:57
Tory MP told Nazanin’s husband to defy Foreign Office advice
Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the defence select committee, said he privately told Richard Ratcliffe to make Nazanin’s case public – defying the advice of the Foreign Office.
Foreign Office minister James Cleverly earlier told Times Radio “the less visible and the less high profile” the case, the higher the chance is of release, saying he disagreed with Richard Ratcliffe’s views on the matter.
Speaking on Times Radio, Ellwood responded: “I think it was wise for Richard. In fact, I privately encouraged him to make the case to go public, to make sure that people are more aware of what’s going on. I’m really pleased that they’re there now.”
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 11:05
Husband ‘probably right’ to go public with campaign – MP
Labour’s Tulip Siddiq said that when Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first detained in 2016, Mr Ratcliffe was advised by the Foreign Office to stay quiet.
“He said after not having any news from Nazanin because she was in solitary confinement right at the beginning, he felt he had no choice but to go public,” the family’s MP said.
“Some people might disagree with this and the Foreign Office told us many times ‘We could have got Nazanin out earlier if you didn’t make such and song and dance about this’ but Richard disagreed with that.
“Throughout the course of the years, I think I have come round to thinking about Richard and thinking he was probably right.”
Matt Mathers17 March 2022 10:48
From arrest to release
Here is a recap of the last six years for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from her arrest in Iran to her release:
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: From arrest to release
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe will soon return to the UK to be reunited with her family after being freed from Iran.The British-Iranian national had been detained in the middle east for the last six years, accused of plotting to overthrow the government. She was given her passport back on Tuesday (15 March) and boarded a plane leaving Iran 24 hours later. A £400m debt – dating back to the 1970s that had been linked to the continued detention of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe – has also now been paid by the UK government. Click here to sign up to our newsletters.
Zoe Tidman17 March 2022 10:12
Husband ‘probably right’ to go public with campaign – MP
Labour’s Tulip Siddiq said that when Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first detained in 2016, Mr Ratcliffe was advised by the Foreign Office to stay quiet.
“He said after not having any news from Nazanin because she was in solitary confinement right at the beginning, he felt he had no choice but to go public,” the family’s MP said.
“Some people might disagree with this and the Foreign Office told us many times ‘We could have got Nazanin out earlier if you didn’t make such and song and dance about this’ but Richard disagreed with that.
“Throughout the course of the years, I think I have come round to thinking about Richard and thinking he was probably right.”
Zoe Tidman17 March 2022 09:52
Original News : https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-iran-released-detention-b2037748.html
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