to find the latest news about Nazanin Ratcliffe completel heartbreaking

[MassDebate]

Nazanin, a British-Iranian mother to 2 year old Gabriella, was detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard when awaiting her flight home from Tehran in February. She was thrown into an Iranian jail and has been held prisoner ever since. Following a secret trial and without any charges being disclosed, her family discovered this morning she has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. Nazanin communicated this news to her husband earlier, expressing her devastation at being separated from her daughter for a fifth of her life.

Little Gabriella (2) had her passport confiscated by the Iranian authorities when her mum was taken, and has been looked after by her grandparents in Iran ever since. Her British father has been advised it would not be safe for him to try to collect her from Iran.

As a parent to a 2 year old this horrendous case makes me well up - I can only imagine the horror of being separated from my child in this way.

AIBU to find the situation so heartbreaking and want to tell you all about it? I can't help but think that raising Nazanin's profile will help ensure she isn't forgotten given the resumption of diplomatic relations (and trade talks) with Iran in recent weeks.

[MassDebate]

Link to news here

[gingerboy1912]

Yanbu it's hugely upsetting, her poor family must be besides themselves. It's been on my mind all day.

[MassDebate]

And now I'm annoyed my phone can't spell completely too

[GColdtimer]

Have been following her story. Just horrendous.

[BigginsforPope]

I've been following her story too and I am so shocked by today's announcement. It must be heartbreaking for her and her dh.

[user1473282350]

Thing is, it's incredibly difficult for the UK government to interfere with the mother's case as she is a dual citizen in her "other" home country. They could with Gabriella as she only holds a British passport, however, they may not be as it could make things a hell of a lot worse.

Would be worth writing to the newly appointed ambassador though I think.

By all accounts they are a truly lovely family. It is such a horrible, horrible thing to happen.

[GabsAlot]

oh god what an awful thing

i knew she was detaine didnt know for how long

why isnt anyone helping her

[Davros]

Terrible. I signed the petition and sent the little girl a birthday card to the Iranian embassy (without my address!) as requested by the husband/dad

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

What's she likely to have done though? Secret charges?

[Vixyboo]

I think she worked for a charity? It is possible the Iranian gov didn't like her work perhaps?

Such an incredibly awful situation.

[BillSykesDog]

I assumed she'd been accused of spying for the UK.

[timelytess]

Nothing to add. Just posting to show solidarity with a mum and her daughter, hoping they will be reunited.

[BillSykesDog]

Yeah, just looked it up. Her family have denied she is a spy publicly, so presumably that's what they believe she is accused of.

[JellyBelli]

Theres a petition on Change.org if anyone wants to sign it.

[user1473282350]

Think the charge originally stated was to overthrow the Iranian Government.

[russetbella1000]

Just can't imagine how this poor mother is carrying on-so heartbreaking for everyone involved.

Angry & sad at such injustice in the world 🙁

[honeylulu]

She worked for Reuters the news agency so I presume it was that they didn't like. It's just awful.
I'm a friend if one of her husband's family members and have been following and supporting the campaign from the beginning. I honestly expected it to be a matter of days at first.
Please sign the online petition, tweet, and write to your MPs.

[MumOnTheRunCatchingUp]

Why is it injustice if she's broken the law?

[user1473282350]

She hasn't broken any laws - she was visiting her family on holiday and was accused of attempting to overthrow the Iranian government as she was leaving the country to fly back to London.

[Italiangreyhound]

www.change.org/p/free-nazanin-ratcliffe

[SukiPutTheEarlGreyOn]

Thanks for starting this thread, op. And also thanks to Honeylulu for reminder to sign the petition and write to MP - will now be doing so this morning. It's such a terrible situation like some Kafka nightmare so it's important that this poor family know that they have support.

[MassDebate]

She works for the Thomson Reuters foundation, not the news agency. It's a charity which has no links to Iran.

There was an accusation that she's part of a soft plot to overthrow the Iranian government at one stage. It's entirely arbitrary and no evidence has ever been put forward (because there is none - it's ludicrous). No one knows whether the same accusation has transformed into a formal charge against her .

Iran has form for doing this to dual nationality citizens though - the FCO has warned against travel to Iran for anyone with dual Iranian/other nationality as detentions have stepped up since Nazanin was held.

[GColdtimer]

Ffs mumontherun, it's probably worth reading up a bit about something before posting such inane comments. This is in Iran, she has been held without charge or representation. She works for a charity and the family have no idea what the charges even are and now after a secret trail she has been sentenced to 5 years in jail. Her British daughter has had her passport removed and the father has been warned not to go to Iran and so the child is separated from both her parents.

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

mumonthe FGS

DH also has dual nationality and is currently in Tehran visiting family. Am 7 months pregnant. It's a heartbreaking situation and I can't believe that more diplomatic pressure can't be applied here.

It seems that Nazanin is only permitted to speak to her father and is frustrated with her husband because she feels that not enough is being done.

I can't sign the petition because anything political on my part puts DH at risk. Very happy to see others signing and sharing.

[Italiangreyhound]

What an appalong situation.