Charity worker used as a ‘political pawn’

Nazanin Zaghari-ratcliffe is being used as a political pawn and the UK must not process any Iranian funds until she is released, a Nobel laureate has said.

Yesterday marked the British-iranian charity worker’s 800th day in jail having been accused of spying.

Ms Zaghari-ratcliffe is facing a further hearing accused of an unspecified security charge and her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, believes she will be accused of spreading propaganda against Tehran’s Islamist regime.

Shirin Ebadi, a human rights lawyer who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, said: “Nazanin Zaghariratcliffe is being used as a political pawn but it is not just her. There are currently over 30 dual nationals that are being held in Iran, so pressure must be put on the Iranian government.”