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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘to face new charge and trial in Iran’

File photo dated 17/03/2021 of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national who is detained in Iran sitting on a sofa in front of a background of curtains

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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian lady jailed in Iran, has been advised she has to face one other trial.

The charity employee is nearing the top of her five-year sentence for spying fees, which she has all the time denied.

Iranian state media stated she was introduced earlier than a revolutionary courtroom in the nation’s capital Tehran on Tuesday morning.

The Overseas Workplace stated the new charge, which has not been made public, was “indefensible and unacceptable”.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 whereas travelling to go to her mother and father along with her younger British-born daughter, Gabriella.

The twin nationwide was sentenced to 5 years in jail over allegations of plotting to overthrow the Iranian authorities, which she denies.

  • What’s the Zaghari-Ratcliffe case about?

Earlier this yr, she was given momentary depart from jail due to the coronavirus outbreak and has been dwelling at her mother and father’ home with an ankle tag.

‘Worrying growth’

Earlier than her arrest, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe lived in London along with her husband Richard.

Her MP, Tulip Siddiq, stated she had spoken to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe. “I have been in contact with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and can verify that she was taken to courtroom this morning and advised she is going to face one other trial on Sunday,” she stated.

“I do know many individuals are involved about her welfare and I will preserve everybody up to date when now we have extra info.

“That is an especially worrying growth, and I do know many individuals are involved about Nazanin’s welfare.”

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Media captionNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband describes how his daughter Gabriella is coping with out her mom

The MP added: “The final 4 years have been excruciating for her husband Richard and her daughter Gabriella, who’s rising up with out a mom.

“The United Nations have recognised Nazanin’s imprisonment as arbitrary and illegal, and any additional courtroom case is clearly unacceptable.”

Debt to Iran

Mr Ratcliffe has beforehand expressed fears that she may face a second courtroom case when her sentence ends.

He stated she and different twin nationals are being held hostage as a result of Iran desires the UK to pay a decades-old debt over an arms deal that was by no means fulfilled.

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Media captionWhy one mom’s private plight is a part of an advanced historical past between Iran and the UK (video revealed August 2019)

The human rights group, Amnesty Worldwide, stated it appeared Iranian authorities have been “taking part in merciless political video games with Nazanin”.

“Nazanin has already been convicted as soon as after a deeply unfair trial, and there needs to be no query of her being put via that ordeal once more,” the charity’s UK director Kate Allen stated.

“As a matter of absolute urgency the UK authorities ought to make recent representations on Nazanin’s behalf, searching for to have any suggestion of a second trial eliminated.”

The Overseas Workplace stated in a press release: “Iran bringing new fees in opposition to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is indefensible and unacceptable.

Now we have been persistently clear that she should not be returned to jail.”

Former Overseas Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: “Nazanin has already served most of her sentence for against the law she did not commit.

“That is hostage diplomacy and Iran must know that Britain won’t stand for it.”

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s household and the UK authorities have all the time maintained her innocence and she has been given diplomatic safety by the Overseas Workplace – that means the case is handled as a proper, authorized dispute between Britain and Iran.

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Media captionRichard Ratcliffe stated he pushed the PM to be “courageous” in regards to Iran

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