Leader to ask for action on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Calls for more to be done to free British Iranians
Perth and Kinross Council’s leader will write to the UK government requesting action to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other British Iranians detained in Iran.
Conservative leader Murray Lyle accepted the request at a meeting held recently.
SNP councillor Mike Williamson sought PKC’s approval of a motion with the request at a virtual meeting on November 15.
The Highland Perthshire councillor told fellow councillors he had been approached by constituents concerned about the plight of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Her husband Richard Ratcliffe - who has been protesting outside the UK foreign office - recently ended a 21-day hunger strike.
Nazanin, his wife - and mum to their sevenyear-old daughter Gabriella - has been detained in Iran on spying charges since 2016.
On Monday, Cllr Williamson tabled the emergency motion as a matter of urgency.
Independent councillor Xander McDade supported the motion and is a member of Amnesty International but queried why it was an emergency motion “given it is a long-standing issue.”
Cllr Lyle said: “Whilst Cllr McDade’s point is it does not seem to be an emergency situation given that Mr Ratcliffe has ended his hunger strike, it is still - in my view - an emergency situation for his wife. The Provost would accept each motion on its merits in a situation like this and there would not be a cast-iron rule which would declare one issue as having precedence over any other issue.”
Provost Melloy said he had not foreseen a problem in including the motion.
Tabling his motion, Cllr Williamson said: “I’ve raised this emergency motion on behalf of a number of constituents who have contacted me recently. I recognise the limitations Perth and Kinross Council has within matters of foreign policy but felt that it’s important for this council to acknowledge the concerns of its constituents.
“I’m requesting that we as a council should show some support for all the British Iranian citizens who have been detained by agreeing this motion.”
His motion - seconded by Cllr Ian Massie (SNP) - asked Cllr Lyle to write to the UK government requesting “they explore all possible measures they can take and use every power at their disposal to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe” and other British Iranian citizens currently detained in Iran.
Lib Dem councillor Willie Wilson said an increased level of support highlighting the plight of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and others was urgent, adding that it was important to “put our shoulders to the wheel.”
Cllr McDade hoped the new foreign secretary Liz Truss would “apply more pressure” and said there were a lot of British nationals around the world in similar situations. He said: “Hopefully this is going to shine the light on the wider issues.”
SNP councillor Fiona Sarwar said it was important councillors “use their voice to speak out on all kinds of issues.”
Cllr Lyle said he recognised the passion felt by many and was happy to write to both Liz Truss and James Cleverly - minister for the Middle East and North Africa.