UK-Iranian 鈥榟ostage鈥� Zaghari-Ratcliffe due back in Tehran jail

British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces a new court appearance next week in Tehran and will be hauled back to jail, her husband said. (File/AFP)
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  • Iran last month abruptly postponed a new trial of Zaghari-Ratcliffe but she has now been told to report to a court, her husband said
  • He said in a statement that the UK government鈥檚 diplomatic approach 鈥渟eems disastrous鈥�

LONDON: British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces a new court appearance next week in Tehran and will be hauled back to jail, her husband said Wednesday, expressing fear her case could drag on 鈥渇or years.鈥�
Iran last month abruptly postponed a new trial of Zaghari-Ratcliffe but she has now been told to report to a court on Monday, Richard Ratcliffe said in a statement.
鈥淪he was told to pack a bag for prison and bring it with her when the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) pick her up, since that is where she will be going after court,鈥� he said.
Ratcliffe linked the development to the postponement of a hearing that was due to take place on Tuesday in London, to address Iran鈥檚 longstanding demand for the repayment by Britain of hundreds of millions from an old military order.
After speaking with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Tuesday, he said in the statement that the UK government鈥檚 diplomatic approach 鈥渟eems disastrous.鈥�
鈥淚t is imperative that the UK protects Nazanin. I told the foreign secretary that I felt the UK is dancing to Iran鈥檚 tune, and exposing Nazanin to abuse because of it,鈥� Ratcliffe said.
鈥淎s Nazanin鈥檚 husband, I do think that if she鈥檚 not home for Christmas, there鈥檚 every chance this could run for years,鈥� he added, accusing Iran of 鈥渉ostage diplomacy.鈥�
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who will turn 42 on Boxing Day, has been on temporary release from Tehran鈥檚 Evin prison and under house arrest since earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
She has spent more than four years in jail or under house arrest since being arrested in the Iranian capital in April 2016 while visiting relatives with her young daughter.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who worked for the Thomson Reuters Foundation 鈥� the media organization鈥檚 philanthropic arm 鈥� denied charges of sedition but was convicted and jailed for five years.
There was no immediate response from the UK government Wednesday. Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson鈥檚 spokesman said the government was raising its concerns with Iran 鈥渁t the highest levels.鈥�