Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SPY FOR US AND WE’LL RELEASE YOU
Iranian captors make offer to UK mum as she goes on hunger strike in freedom fight
A TERRIFIED mum caged in a hell hole prison was told she would be set free if she spied on the UK, it’s claimed.
Nazanin Zaghari-ratcliffe, 40, is on hunger strike to secure her release in Iran.
Husband Richard Ratcliffe told the Mirror that interrogators warned Nazanin and her family would be “safer” if she accepted their offer.
JAILED British mum Nazanin Zaghari-ratcliffe was asked to spy on the UK in exchange for her freedom, it was claimed last night.
Husband Richard Ratcliffe revealed Iranian Revolutionary Guard interrogators made the offer after approaching her.
He claimed they warned her she and her family would be “safer” if she accepted.
Richard said the 40-year-old was so scared she begged him not to go public with the threat. It also cemented her decision to start a three-day hunger strike yesterday.
He added: “She came out terrified and worried the only way she was going to get out was if she’s agreed to be a spy.
“She was told it would be safer for her if she agreed. She was told to think about it and that they would return. This was outrageous, to threaten her.”
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror after a press conference, North London accountant Richard told how he felt he had to go public in a bid to spark action here and in Iran to stop her hunger strike. He fears it may go on longer than three days. Richard said: “I feel it’s always safer for us to be transparent.
“I’ll worry if she extends beyond three days. It is not ‘life or death’, but if we are having this conversation on day 20 it will be terrifying.” Nazanin was held in Tehran airport on April 3 2016 as she tried to board a plane for London with daughter Gabriella, now four, after visiting her parents.
She was accused of spying and sentenced to five years.
Richard yesterday met Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to ask Nazanin be awarded diplomatic protection to obtain her repatriation.
He said Mr Hunt demanded a meeting with the Iranian ambassador in London and would wait for the outcome before taking any action.
Nazanin threatened hunger strike before Christmas after she was refused medical care for lumps in her breasts.