'Fingers crossed something will come': Husband of jailed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hopes ahead of Foreign Secretary's visit to Iran

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of the jailed British mother in Iran, shared his hopes to Sky News after reports of Boris Johnson's visit
REUTERS
Ella Wills8 December 2017

The husband of a British woman jailed in Iran has said he hopes an upcoming visit by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will give her "some hope."

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, welcomed the news of the Foreign Secretary's visit to Tehran, saying that "him being there can only make things better".

He told Sky News: "Nazanin has a new court case on Sunday, so it is really, really great that he is able to be there, just to press how important it is that she could be home with her family."

He added: "I think him being there can only make things better. It makes a clear statement that he is concerned about Nazanin, he is concerned about the other cases.

"I am sure the fact that the Foreign Secretary is going will have given her some hope and fingers crossed that maybe something will come."

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter Gabriella
PA

The dual Iranian-British citizen from north London, is serving a five-year sentence over allegations, which she denies, of plotting to overthrow the Tehran government.

Mr Ratcliffe said that he had asked Mr Johnson to meet his wife, her family and the judiciary in Iran.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson meets with Richard Ratcliffe is reportedly planning his first visit to Iran
AFP/Getty Images

He explained that he was hoping to be able to travel with Mr Johnson but that his "top priority" was for the Foreign Secretary to get to Iran in time for Sunday's court case.

The trip, which remains unconfirmed by the Foreign Officer, was first reported in the Guardian which said Mr Johnson would meet with senior Iranian officials.

Commenting on reports of the visit, Amnesty International UK's director Kate Allen said: "We're cautiously hopeful that this could be the light at the end of the tunnel for Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

"As we've been saying over and over, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a charity worker who's been jailed for five years after enduring solitary confinement and a deeply unfair trial.

"The Iranian authorities have a record of toying with the fate of prisoners being held for 'political' reasons, so it's still very hard to feel confident that her release is imminent.

"We fervently hope the Foreign Secretary's visit can secure her speedy release, but if it doesn't we'll go on campaigning. This is a gross injustice and it must be set right."

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