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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Daughter of Briton jailed in Iran back in UK Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Daughter of Briton jailed in Iran back in UK
(about 1 hour later)
The five-year-old daughter of a British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran on spying charges has returned to the UK.The five-year-old daughter of a British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran on spying charges has returned to the UK.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, a charity worker from London, has been detained for three years over the allegations which she denies. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, a charity worker from London, has been detained for three years over the allegations, which she denies.
Her British-born daughter Gabriella, who has been living with her grandparents in Tehran, returned on Thursday to start school in the UK.Her British-born daughter Gabriella, who has been living with her grandparents in Tehran, returned on Thursday to start school in the UK.
Her father Richard said it had been a "long journey" to having her home.Her father Richard said it had been a "long journey" to having her home.
"Gabriella came back to us late at night, a bit uncertain seeing those she only remembered from the phone," Mr Ratcliffe said. "Gabriella came back to us late at night, a bit uncertain seeing those she only remembered from the phone," Mr Ratcliffe said. "Now she is peacefully sleeping next to me. And I am just watching."
"Now she is peacefully sleeping next to me. And I am just watching." Thanking the British Embassy and the Iranian Foreign Ministry, he said: "It has been a long journey to have her home, with bumps right until the end."
Thanking the British Embassy and the Iranian Foreign Ministry, he added: "It has been a long journey to have her home, with bumps right until the end." Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 during a visit to introduce Gabriella to relatives, her family said. She is now being held in Tehran's Evin prison, where Gabriella visited her at least once a week.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 during a visit to introduce Gabriella to relatives, the family says. But in April the family said new prison rules meant Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe could only see her daughter once a month and that she was banned from making international calls.
She is now being held in Tehran's Evin prison, where Gabriella visited had been visiting her at least once a week. Last week, they told the Times that her parents had agreed Gabriella should return to the UK for the start of the school year in September, but postponed the decision after Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was taken to a psychiatric hospital.
However, in April the family said new prison rules meant Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe could only see her once a month and that she was banned from making international calls.
Last week, they told the Times that her parents had agreed Gabriella should return to the UK for the start of the school year in September but postponed the decision after Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was taken to a psychiatric hospital.
'Hard goodbye''Hard goodbye'
Mr Ratcliffe, from West Hampstead, had told the BBC that his wife was hoping for a "magic" last-minute release to enable her to come home with Gabriella.Mr Ratcliffe, from West Hampstead, had told the BBC that his wife was hoping for a "magic" last-minute release to enable her to come home with Gabriella.
Speaking after being re-united with his daughter, he added: "Of course the job is not yet done until Nazanin is home. Speaking after being re-united with his daughter, he said: "Of course the job is not yet done until Nazanin is home. It was a hard goodbye for Nazanin and all her family. But let us hope this homecoming unlocks another."
"It was a hard goodbye for Nazanin and all her family. But let us hope this homecoming unlocks another."
In response to Gabriella's return, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reiterated his earlier calls for Iran to release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and said the family's situation was one that no parent "should ever have to face".In response to Gabriella's return, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reiterated his earlier calls for Iran to release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and said the family's situation was one that no parent "should ever have to face".
"Gabriella is an innocent child and should be able to go to school and be with both her parents," he said. "Gabriella is an innocent child and should be able to go to school and be with both her parents," he said. "We continue to urge Iran to release Nazanin immediately so the family can be reunited in the UK."
"We continue to urge Iran to release Nazanin immediately so the family can be reunited in the UK."
His predecessor, Jeremy Hunt, described the news of Gabriella's homecoming as "the definition of bittersweet".His predecessor, Jeremy Hunt, described the news of Gabriella's homecoming as "the definition of bittersweet".
He called on the British government to "redouble" its efforts to secure Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release, tweeting: "Now more than ever, she needs to know she's not alone".He called on the British government to "redouble" its efforts to secure Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release, tweeting: "Now more than ever, she needs to know she's not alone".
Iran has detained a number of dual citizens and foreign nationals in recent years, many of them on spying charges. The exact numbers are not known.Iran has detained a number of dual citizens and foreign nationals in recent years, many of them on spying charges. The exact numbers are not known.
The arrests and a row over the seizure of oil tankers in the Gulf. have led to increasingly tense diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran in recent years.The arrests and a row over the seizure of oil tankers in the Gulf. have led to increasingly tense diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran in recent years.
The family's MP, Labour's Tulip Siddiq, called on Iran to end its "hostage diplomacy" and release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.The family's MP, Labour's Tulip Siddiq, called on Iran to end its "hostage diplomacy" and release Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
'Breaking point''Breaking point'
"It is heart-warming to see Gabriella reunited with her father after 1,300 days in Iran, but heart-breaking that she is separated from her mother Nazanin," Ms Siddiq said."It is heart-warming to see Gabriella reunited with her father after 1,300 days in Iran, but heart-breaking that she is separated from her mother Nazanin," Ms Siddiq said.
"Nazanin is at breaking point, and today is yet another reminder that she has been failed at the very highest levels of government.""Nazanin is at breaking point, and today is yet another reminder that she has been failed at the very highest levels of government."
Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for the release of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a meeting with Iran's president.Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for the release of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a meeting with Iran's president.
In 2017, when he was foreign secretary, Mr Johnson had to apologise after saying she was in Iran "teaching people journalism" - despite her family's insistence she was there on holiday.In 2017, when he was foreign secretary, Mr Johnson had to apologise after saying she was in Iran "teaching people journalism" - despite her family's insistence she was there on holiday.