The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) held a meeting entitled “Iranian New Year: Brits in Evin Prison” on 20 March at which Kamran Foroughi (“KF”), son of Kamal Foroughi, a British-Iranian dual national who has served almost six years in Evin prison, and Richard Ratcliffe (“RR”), husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national sentenced to five years in Evin prison, gave an update about the situation of their family members detained in Iran.

We would like to thank Ann Clwyd MP, Chair of the PHRG, for chairing this event.

The main points which arose were as follows:

• There are three compelling reasons to free Kamal Foroughi: on compassionate grounds; on medical grounds; and on legal grounds.  He is 77 years old and has been in prison for almost 6 years without seeing his children and grandchildren, and has had no visitors since late 2011; there continue to be serious concerns about his health; and he has been eligible for release under Iranian law every day since January 2014. (KF)
• Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at the airport while returning from a holiday with her daughter to see family in Iran, during a period in which a number of dual nationals were held. At her trial in August 2016, she was sentenced under undisclosed national security-related charges. On 4 January 2017 Nazanin’s appeal was unsuccessful and her sentence upheld.  It is unclear when the legal process will be concluded, though Nazanin’s case has been filed at the Supreme Court.  (RR)
• Nazanin has spent long periods in prison in isolation. She has had suicidal thoughts and gone on hunger strike.  Nazanin is worried for her daughter and her family in Iran. Since mid- February, Nazanin has had medical problems with her neck, arm and shoulder, and has been advised by a medical specialist to get treatment at hospital, which a judge is now considering. In terms of her immediate and longer-term welfare, it is very important for Nazanin to be hospitalised and receive the medical care she needs. (RR)
• Raising the morale of Kamal and Nazanin, and ensuring they know that have not been forgotten, is very important. (KF & RR)
• UK Parliamentarians’ continued support for the campaign to release Kamal and Nazanin are greatly appreciated (KF & RR).

The PHRG will continue to monitor the cases of Nazanin and Kamal closely, to work with their families, and to call on the Iranian authorities for their release.