Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe still waiting to hear if she must return to prison

18 April 2020, 20:08

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport in 2016
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport in 2016. Picture: PA

By Megan White

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe must wait another day to find out if her temporary release from a prison in Iran has been extended.

The British-Iranian mother was temporarily released from Evin prison in Tehran during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's furlough was extended by two weeks in late March, and she was scheduled to return to prison on Saturday.

But on Saturday, the Free Nazanin Campaign said her family had not yet received a decision on whether or not her furlough is to be extended, and were told to return to the Prosecutors Office in Iran on Sunday.

"Nazanin's family spoke with the Prosecutors Office today for an update on whether her furlough is to be extended beyond this weekend, or if she will have to return to prison," the tweet said.

"They were told to come back tomorrow for an answer."

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been living in relative isolation at her parents' house in Tehran while the country gets to grips with the outbreak.

She has to wear an ankle tag during the furlough, and can only go within a 300-metre range of her parents' home.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport while travelling to visit her parents with her young daughter, Gabriella, in April 2016.

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

She was sentenced to five years in prison over allegations, which she denies, of plotting to overthrow the Tehran government.

She was later afforded diplomatic protection by the UK Government, which argues that she is innocent and that her treatment by Iran failed to meet obligations under international law.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Azzarello was pictured outside the courthouse a day earlier with a conspiracy sign

'Researcher', 37, set himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial in shocking 'political protest'

Donald Trump in court

Full jury of 12 and six alternatives selected in Donald Trump hush money trial

Trump Hush Money

Police to review security at Trump courthouse after man sets himself on fire

Donald Trump

Trump’s hush money case to go ahead after judge rejects latest bid to delay

Trump Hush Money

Man in critical condition after setting himself on fire outside Trump courthouse

Paramedics attended to a person who lit themselves on fire near Manhattan Criminal Court

Horror as man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York

Iran Mideast Tensions

Israel and Iran play down apparent Israeli air strike near nuclear site

France Iran

Police in Paris detain man wearing fake explosives vest at Iranian consulate

Pakistan Suicide Attack

Japanese workers narrowly escape suicide bombing in Pakistan

India Election Narendra Modi

India starts voting as Narendra Modi seeks third term as prime minister

Police officers patrol

No weapons found after police detain man at Iranian consulate in Paris

Congress Ukraine Israel

Ukraine and Israel aid back on track as US House pushes towards weekend votes

Leonid Volkov

Two suspects held in Poland after attack on Navalny ally in Lithuania

Denmark Fire

Firefighters tackle scaffolding dangling outside fire-ravaged Danish landmark

Ruben Vardanyan

Ex-Russian tycoon who led separatist region launches hunger strike in Azerbaijan

Rain in Dubai

Three dead amid heavy flooding after record rain in UAE