Iran prison woman loses appeal
ABritish-Iranian woman who was jailed in Iran for allegedly plotting to topple the government has lost the final stage of her appeal against the sentence, her family said.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained last April while visiting family in Iran with her daughter Gabriella.
The 38-year-old was imprisoned for five years last September and later lost an appeal against her sentence in January.
Despite this, she maintains her innocence.
Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, explained that she appealed to Iran’s Supreme Court where her sentence was upheld, and has been told there are no more legal avenues available.
Following a spell in solitary confinement Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was moved to the women’s ward of Evin prison in Tehran on Boxing Day.
This gave her the ability to socialize and eat with other inmates - she was also able to receive visits from her daughter.
But during this time she experienced many health problems.
She is said to have ongoing problems with her neck, shoulder and back - a neurologist she was allowed to see in February recommended she be hospitalised to prevent any permanent damage being caused.
She has been prescribed medication to help her sleep and which have also aided panic attacks she is said to have experienced.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s sister-in-law, Rebecca Jones, who lives in Cardiff, explained that she was starting to suffer physically earlier this year.
Back in March Cwmbran GP Mrs Jones said: “She’s now in a political wing so she is no longer isolated and is with other prisoners so she is starting to make friends.
“Physically her health is deteriorating. She now has problems with her left shoulder, neck and left arm.
“She had a visit from a neurologist who wanted her to go to hospital but every prison has rejected that, though negotiations are ongoing.
“She now has more regular visits from Gabriella with her mum and dad and she gets occasional calls to Richard once or twice a month.”
Mr Ratcliffe has now vowed to continue putting pressure on the British Government, claiming: “The solution now is political.”
He told the Press Association: “If we got to a year and she wasn’t out I [said I] was going to start pushing again.
“We’ve had a year, the legal process is finished, so I think the Government needs to step up.”