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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Freed After Six Years In Iran Jail

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe Freed After Six Years In Iran Jail

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is set to return home after having been detained inside a jail in Iran for six years.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is set to return home after having been detained inside a jail in Iran for six years.

The Iranian-British dual citizen was taking her daughter to see family when she was arrested. She was later sentenced to five years in jail for allegedly plotting against the Tehran government, an offence she has continued to deny.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe has subsequently been detained in Iran since April 3, 2016.

However, the 44-year-old has since been released from jail and is set to be reunited with her family in the UK as soon as today (16 March).

During her five year sentence, Zaghari-Ratcliffe spent four years in Evin Prison and one year under house arrest because of the coronavirus pandemic, Sky News reports.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's daughter and husband protesting for her release.
Alamy

However, she was given an additional jail term and banned from leaving the country for a year after she attempted to appeal in April 2021.

The UK's failure to pay Iran an outstanding debt amounting to £400m was reportedly the reason local authorities gave Zaghari-Ratcliffe for her detainment.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss addressed the debt as being 'legitimate' earlier today.

However, it remains unclear as to whether Britain has paid Iran.

Protest in support of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Alamy

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's detainment sparked international outrage and protests in support of her release. Her husband even went on a hunger strike.

Yesterday (15 March), Ratcliffe's UK MP Tulip Siddiq revealed that the mother had her British passport returned to her.

She said: "She went in for questioning, there was a long discussion, and some scare tactics used from what I can gather. About her family and threats to her family. But she wasn't quite sure what they were getting at until they gave her her passport, her British passport.

"Bear in mind [...] she hasn't seen her British passport since April 3, 2016, six years ago. So she was astonished to leave her British passport.

"But when she was leaving they said, don't book a flight, we'll sort out your travel arrangements essentially."

Alongside Zaghari-Ratcliffe, British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori is also set to return to the UK after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying charges in 2019.

The pair's lawyer has reported that they are currently on their way to the airport and MP Siddiq has also taken to Twitter to update followers on the situation.

She wrote: "Nazanin is at the airport in Tehran and on her way home. I came into politics to make a difference, and right now I’m feeling like I have. More details to follow. #FreeNazanin."

Featured Image Credit: PA/ Family