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UK Appalled by Iran’s Decision to Begin New Case Against Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Foreign Minister Says

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LONDON (Sputnik) – UK Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called on Monday "appalling" the Iranian government’s decision to bring a new case against UK-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested in April 2016 for anti-government activities and sentenced to 5 years in prison, but had been recently released due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is appalling that Iran has begun a new case against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and have threatened her with being returned to prison. The Iranian authorities have put an intolerable burden on Nazanin and her family", Raab said in a statement.

The foreign secretary said that he was "relieved" that Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains on temporary release, but added that she needs to be returned home to her family, and pledged the UK government will continue "to make this clear in the strongest terms."

Before Raab’s statements was released, Labour Party lawmaker Tulip Siddiq announced on Twitter that the trial had been adjourned, and that she was back home with her parents.

​The Labour lawmaker complained the no UK government representative was present at the trial "despite our repeated request", and said that "these mind games be stopped."

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a Thomson Reuters Foundation employee at the time, was arrested in April 2016 in Iran on suspicions of plotting against the government. Sentenced to five years in prison, she was released in March amid the coronavirus outbreak but had to wear a tracking anklet.

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