Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's prison leave extended by a month in Iran
The British-Iranian mum is in relative isolation at her parents' house in Tehran while the country fights the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuesday 21 April 2020 10:56, UK
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's temporary release from an Iranian jail has been extended for one month, her MP has said.
The British-Iranian mum is in relative isolation at her parents' house in Tehran while the country fights the COVID-19 pandemic.
She was released temporarily by the Iranian authorities because of the coronavirus outbreak. She has to wear an ankle tag, and her movements are restricted to 300 metres from her parents' home.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been due to return to prison over the weekend, but her family were then told to return to the Prosecutor's Office today.
MP Tulip Siddiq tweeted: "Very happy to hear from Richard Ratcliffe that Nazanin's furlough has been extended for a month - in line with other prisoners in Iran.
"Now is the time for our government to do all it can to make it permanent," added the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport while travelling to introduce her daughter Gabriella to her Iranian relatives in 2016.
She was sentenced to five years in jail over claims of plotting to overthrow Iran's government, which she denies.
The 42-year-old was later given diplomatic protection by the British government, which argues that Iran has failed to meet its obligations under international law.
Her temporary release in mid-March followed the release of 85,000 prisoners in Iran to stop the spread of the coronavirus epidemic in the country.
She said at the time: "I am so happy to be out. Even with the ankle tag, I am so happy. Being out is so much better than being in - if you knew what hell this place is. It is mental. Let us hope it will be the beginning of coming home."