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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/25/british-iranian-academic-detained-in-iran-since-april-returns-to-uk
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| British-Iranian academic detained in Iran since April returns to UK | British-Iranian academic detained in Iran since April returns to UK |
| (7 days later) | |
| A British-Iranian dual national academic and anti-war activist who was detained in Iran has been released and returned to the UK. | A British-Iranian dual national academic and anti-war activist who was detained in Iran has been released and returned to the UK. |
| Abbas Edalat, a professor in computer science and maths at Imperial College London, had been held in custody since April, according to the Centre for Human Rights in Iran. | Abbas Edalat, a professor in computer science and maths at Imperial College London, had been held in custody since April, according to the Centre for Human Rights in Iran. |
| Iran’s official IRNA news agency had reported that Edalat was being held on unspecified “security charges”, raising parallels with the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been held on spying charges for more than two years, charges she denies. | Iran’s official IRNA news agency had reported that Edalat was being held on unspecified “security charges”, raising parallels with the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been held on spying charges for more than two years, charges she denies. |
| The Foreign Office did not have a hand in my release from Iran | Letter | |
| The UK Foreign Office has frequently said other British-Iranian dual nationals have been held in Tehran but not identified them in line with family wishes. | The UK Foreign Office has frequently said other British-Iranian dual nationals have been held in Tehran but not identified them in line with family wishes. |
| The Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII), which Edalat founded, said he returned to the UK last week. Edalat, ironically, had been a campaigner against US sanctions against the Iranian regime, and his detention appeared to be based on a misunderstanding. | The Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran (CASMII), which Edalat founded, said he returned to the UK last week. Edalat, ironically, had been a campaigner against US sanctions against the Iranian regime, and his detention appeared to be based on a misunderstanding. |
| The group said it appeared he had been detained due to “misinformation and misunderstanding by the Iranian security apparatus”. | The group said it appeared he had been detained due to “misinformation and misunderstanding by the Iranian security apparatus”. |
| In a statement it said: “It increasingly appears, as we had suspected, that his detention in spring in Iran was a case of misinformation and misunderstanding by the Iranian security apparatus. | In a statement it said: “It increasingly appears, as we had suspected, that his detention in spring in Iran was a case of misinformation and misunderstanding by the Iranian security apparatus. |
| “In the context of the multi-pronged attacks and open threats of the US, Israel and their allies to destabilise the Islamic Republic of Iran – including massive spending on economic warfare, espionage, and psychological operations against Iranians – the tensions are rising again and the potential for such misinterpretations is very real. | “In the context of the multi-pronged attacks and open threats of the US, Israel and their allies to destabilise the Islamic Republic of Iran – including massive spending on economic warfare, espionage, and psychological operations against Iranians – the tensions are rising again and the potential for such misinterpretations is very real. |
| “CASMII continues to demand that the US call off its threats, destabilisation campaigns and sanctions on Iran and rejoin the internationally recognised UN-endorsed 2015 nuclear deal with Iran (JCPOA).” | “CASMII continues to demand that the US call off its threats, destabilisation campaigns and sanctions on Iran and rejoin the internationally recognised UN-endorsed 2015 nuclear deal with Iran (JCPOA).” |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We can confirm that a British-Iranian dual national who was detained in Tehran has returned to the UK. | A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: “We can confirm that a British-Iranian dual national who was detained in Tehran has returned to the UK. |
| “We continue to take action on all our consular cases in Iran in line with what we believe will produce the best outcomes in their cases.” | “We continue to take action on all our consular cases in Iran in line with what we believe will produce the best outcomes in their cases.” |
| Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been in prison in Iran since April 2016, accused of seeking to overthrow the Iranian regime. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, this week made a renewed appeal for her release ahead of her 40th birthday on Boxing Day. | Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been in prison in Iran since April 2016, accused of seeking to overthrow the Iranian regime. Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, this week made a renewed appeal for her release ahead of her 40th birthday on Boxing Day. |
| The British-Iranian mother, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport. | The British-Iranian mother, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport. |
| The charity worker, of Hampstead in north London, was later sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying, a charge she vehemently denies. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has made her release a linchpin of British-Iranian relations, but has been unable to find a lever to persuade the Tehran regime to release her. | The charity worker, of Hampstead in north London, was later sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying, a charge she vehemently denies. Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has made her release a linchpin of British-Iranian relations, but has been unable to find a lever to persuade the Tehran regime to release her. |
| The UK feels poorly rewarded by Tehran for its efforts to stand up to the US over President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015. | The UK feels poorly rewarded by Tehran for its efforts to stand up to the US over President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015. |
| Ratcliffe, and the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, have called her incarceration a “travesty of justice”. | Ratcliffe, and the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, have called her incarceration a “travesty of justice”. |
| Hunt tweeted on Christmas Day: “Happy Christmas to all. As we celebrate, let’s also remember those unjustly imprisoned like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is 40 tomorrow and separated from her brave husband Richard and devoted daughter Gabriella. Many more like her – we will not forget them today.” | Hunt tweeted on Christmas Day: “Happy Christmas to all. As we celebrate, let’s also remember those unjustly imprisoned like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who is 40 tomorrow and separated from her brave husband Richard and devoted daughter Gabriella. Many more like her – we will not forget them today.” |
| • Letter from Abbas Edalat in response to this article: The Foreign Office did not have a hand in my release from Iran | |
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