Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘eligible for early release’
Breakthrough could see jailed Brit home from Iran for Christmas
Jailed British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is eligible for early release after spending more than 18 months in an Iranian prison over spying allegations, her lawyer says.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, from Hampstead, denies accusations that she plotted to overthrow the Tehran government. Richard Ratcliffe said his wife’s lawyer is hopeful she will be home for Christmas.
Ratcliffe told Sky News that nothing had been confirmed officially and that “there is still some paperwork” to complete. “But compared to where we have been in recent weeks, there is absolutely no doubt that this is positive news,”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Tehran to “smooth over” a blunder that threatened to land Zaghari-Ratcliffe with a longer sentence, after Johnson mistakenly claimed that the mother-of-one was in Iran to teach journalism, The Daily Telegraph says.
The Iranian government said his comment amounted to a confession that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was working to overthrow the Iranian government, and summoned her to court to face more serious charges and a longer sentence. The threat of legal action was quietly dropped following the Foreign Secretary’s visit.
In November, the Iranian ambassador to London announced that the UK had agreed to settle a £400m debt dating back to the 1970s. He insisted that Britain’s change of heart “has nothing to do” with Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case, Reuters reports.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Immunotherapy and hay fever
The Explainer Research shows that the treatment could provide significant relief from symptoms for many hay fever sufferers
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A flooded island, a ballistic missile, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Who actually needs life insurance?
The Explainer If you have kids or are worried about passing on debt, the added security may be worth it
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published