In our November meeting we decided to write to our MP and MSPs over the illegal detention and appauling treatment of NazaninZaghari-Ratcliffe by the Iranian government.
We have had a number of responses, reproduced below. All our representatives are very supportive of our views.
Thank you for writing to me on this important issue.
I am as appalled as you are by the treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe at the hands of the Iranian Government, and also appalled at the lack of action taken, and concern shown, by the UK Government for her.
I am also concerned for her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, who you will know was on hunger strike outside the Foreign Office in London.
While foreign policy is a reserved area, my colleague, Sarah Boyack MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, has written to the UK Foreign Secretary, urging her to take immediate and effective action to resolve Nazanin’s situation. She has also written to the Scottish Government calling on them to come out strongly against the treatment of Nazanin, and to add pressure on the UK Government. Nazanin’s imprisonment is completely unjustified and has been allowed to continue for far too long.
My colleague, Michael Marra MSP has laid a motion before the Parliament on #FreeNazanin, which I have supported, and we would encourage you to write to your other MSPs to ask them to support it.
I note the factually inaccurate comments around Ms Zarghani-Ratcliffe that the Prime Minister made in 2017, when he was the Foreign Secretary, which were then cited in the Iranian court to justify her arrest, thereby exacerbating her incarceration. He must bear some blame, in addition to his responsibility to her as a British citizen.
That the UK Government has allowed a British citizen to be treated this way for so long, without taking more action is shocking, reflects terribly on this country, and is putting lives at risk.
We share your concerns about the terrible situation. We have recently sent the letter below to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Thank you for everything that you are doing to support Nazanin.
Dear Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
We are writing to you regarding the brutal and unjustified arbitrary detention and abuse of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran. It has been over 2000 days since Nazanin was first separated from her family.
Nazanin has endured terrible treatment from the Iranian regime, which she has accused of subjecting her to sensory and sleep deprivation, prolonged solitary confinement, and extensive periods of being blindfolded, chained and handcuffed. It is treatment that your predecessor, Dominic Raab rightly described as torture.
Nazanin’s husband, Richard Zaghari-Ratcliffe, has just finished a three week long hunger strike. It is a step he should never have had to take.
The family has been failed by Downing Street for far too long. Last week Richard met with your colleague, the Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly. But nothing concrete came from the meeting, which Richard described as “depressing.”
Unfortunately, to date, the UK government's approach to securing her release has not been anywhere near good enough. Four years ago this month the now Prime Minister, then Foreign Secretary, handed the Iranian regime a propaganda victory by appearing to support their claims against her when speaking to a House of Commons committee.
It is clear that the current strategy is not working. It has been a diplomatic failure with devastating consequences. Every day that Nazanin is kept apart from her husband, her daughter and her home is yet another sign of that failure.
The situation needs real leadership. You and your colleagues need to be willing to show that leadership. Under the previous UK government, Ministers made multiple visits to Iran to negotiate for Nazanin to be released, but that has not happened under this Prime Minister. Nazanin's freedom cannot be a political bargaining chip.
You must be prepared to do everything in your power to secure her release. Amnesty International and others have called for you to take a more assertive approach to the full diplomatic protection that Nazanin was granted in 2019 by asserting her right to consular assistance and working with others to highlight and address the Iranian government's appalling human rights record.
We stand in solidarity with Nazanin, Richard and their daughter Gabriella, who have found themselves in the middle of a terrible diplomatic saga through no fault of their own. They do not deserve this.
Your sincerely
Lorna Slater MSP, Patrick Harvie MSP Co-leaders, Scottish Greens
Thank you very much for writing on behalf of the Southside Community Council regarding the horrific situation being experienced by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran. I very much hope a solution can be found and, along with a great many MPs from all parties, have been trying to impress upon the UK Government the importance of taking action.
I am happy to update you on the recent actions I have taken on this case.
I have also added my name to a request by my colleague Hannah Bardell MP to secure a full chamber debate on “consular services for British citizens murdered or killed in suspicious circumstances or wrongly imprisoned overseas”. The Zaghari-Ratcliffe case was one of the main examples given for the need for this debate, though it will provide a forum to air concerns about the circumstances of other citizens in precarious situations around the world. This has now been scheduled to take place on December 9th.
I hope this is helpful and reassuring. I repeat that I hope very much that this situation can be resolved.
Best Tommy
Thank you for your email of November 10th and for your patience in awaiting a response at this immensely busy time.
I share the strength of feeling of the Southside Community Council regarding the appalling treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and the lack of action from the UK Parliament in securing her release.
As you rightly point out, this is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament. My SNP colleagues in Westminster have been doing all they can to highlight Nazanin’s case and I, and my SNP colleagues in the Scottish Parliament, will continue to press the UK Government at every opportunity to secure her release.
On another note, as the recently elected MSP for Edinburgh Central, I would be delighted to meet you and other members of the Southside Community Council, should you wish to do so. I am copying in my Head of Communications and Outreach, Michael Sturrock, who will be able to liaise with you to arrange an appropriate time.
If there is anything further I can do to assist in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch.
With best wishes,
Angus
"Every month hundreds of constituents get in touch on a whole host of policy issues ranging from bees to the nuclear deterrent. This month the most popular topics were Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and amendments to the Health and Care Bill relating to abortion in England."
Clearly our concerns are shared by our neighbours in the next constituency.