To wonder if mumsnet could use its influence to lobby MPs over Nazanin

[Everythingnotsavedwillbelost]

Genuine question as I have found the whole case so upsetting - politicians recognise the influence of mumsnet- it’s a large demographic of women mainly mums.

There is a mum being held in an overseas prison & now separated from her young daughter who is back in the uk with no idea when she will see her little girl again. And a 5 year old child not knowing when she will see her mum again.

Nazanin seems to be a political pawn for Iran and it’s truly awful. Could we have a petition lobbying Dominic Raab & Boris Johnson asking them to do more to get her home?

Aibu?

YANBU. I think Boris is embarrassed about the damage he's done to her case and doesn't want to much attention paid to it.

It makes me feel slightly sick to imagine being separated from my child in the way she is - Boris should be doing more to sort it

How can we use our influence?
There's a lot of us to listen to!

@livingthedream I don’t know- a petition?

@mumsnetHQ have you got any thoughts?

The problem is that she’s a dual national. So an Iranian citizen.

This is in the hands of the Iranian government. Only back channels would work.

It’s not like the UK haven’t tried, BJ’s gaffe not withstanding.

Apparently this has a lot to do with 400 million owed to Iran in the 1970’s

Writing directly to the Iranian government (PM or foreign minister) might be the least pointless approach.

Culturally, I would guess asking for mercy to a mother might play best.

If you want to lobby someone To do something, then it is always way more effective if you can say what it is that you want them to do, rather than the vague formulations of 'do more' or 'do something'

Iran doesn't recognise dual nationality, so from there pov she is Iranian in Iran, so I'm really not sure what can be done, and hope OP and any other better-informed posters can explain

"Apparently this has a lot to do with 400 million owed to Iran in the 1970’s"

Can you add more on this? Why is she connected? (unlike other dual nationals who travel without difficulty)

@chantico I guess I am responding as a parent who is upset by the whole situation- I don’t know the best thing to do hence asking on here - a forum full of mums. My instinct comes from feeling very upset and wanting to do something useful to help 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can you add more on this? Why is she connected? (unlike other dual nationals who travel without difficulty)

Well, her MP Tulip Siddiqui said yesterday that she thinks that the 2 things are linked and that she has been taken hostage by Iran - who have a history of using people in this way to make a political point

The Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs is Mohammad Javid Zafir. Address below. Beat approach is to respectfully ask him to exercise his power to grant her release so she can rejoin her daughter. Emphasise you’re writing as a mother. I’ll send a letter on Monday. Who knows? Maybe a couple of thousand letters would have a small influence?

Minister for Foreign Affairs
H.E. Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Imam Khomeini St.
Tehran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Phone: (98-21) 6115 2000 - 5
(98-21) 6674 6376
E-mail: ___
Web site: www.mfa.gov.ir

@tottie thanks, that’s brilliant

Well, her MP Tulip Siddiqui said yesterday that she thinks that the 2 things are linked and that she has been taken hostage by Iran

Yes, I’d skip over all that.

If the point is to make a human appeal on behalf of a mother and daughter, then do that, and don’t get bogged down speculating about the politics.

Maybe the Iranian embassy in London might be an easier target actually?

You’re welcome. Hopefully you’ll inspire enough MNers to join in OP.

Yes, I agree they do seem to be hanging on to her. But it's really not clear how she's connected to any money issues. If she is, then that might perhaps make quite a difference to what should be done. Bit unfair of the MP to drop hints - it does rather leave everyone else floundering about what might be helpful.

Still think we need to know what 'something' or 'more' might be (even if only in the vaguest terms) before calling for that (rather than eg 'continuing efforts' and keeping situation in the public consciousness)

Maybe the Iranian embassy in London might be an easier target actually?

Possibly. Maybe both? I’m pretty sure most Amnesty International letter writing campaigns (back in the day when I used to do them) were often both.

I might see what Amnesty suggest actually aswell- I used write letters when I was in uni

We've got a GE coming (probably!) and party leaders are always keen to communicate with MN users then.

It's not a bad idea but MN is, sadly, so removed from its membership - except for money making purposes, I can't see MNHQ making the effort.

It would be intereting to know how the Australian govt secured the release of those two utter numpties who were flying a drone near an Iranian military base.

@theOliphant I think there was some kind of prisoner swap from what I read

Britain owes Iran around £450m for a cancelled arms deal in the 1970s. The deal was made with the country’s then Shah, and would have seen 1,750 tanks and other vehicles sold by Britain to Iran. However, the Shah was toppled in the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and almost none of the vehicles were delivered. Britain kept the money, sparking a decades-long legal wrangle between the two countries

The Iranian Ambassador has said there is no link between ^ and Naznin's detention.

Well you can kind of understand why Iran is pissed off about the cash

OP - yes, of course - was it an Iranian woman in an Oz prison? Don't we have someone we can give them?

Apparently, govt are willing to give the money to Iran but are prevented from doing so because of sanctions on money transfers to Iran. It's all above my pay grade.