Richard Ratcliffe ends hunger strike + petition

Richard Ratcliffe with Jo from ICN on Friday

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of the detained Iranian-British dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, ended his hunger strike camped outside the Foreign Office today.

His 21-day protest was a fresh bid to press the Government into taking firmer action for Nazanin, his wife who has been arbitrarily detained in Iran since 3 April 2016. Ratcliffe's action is also shining a light on the plight of other British Nationals arbitrarily held in Iran, including Anoosheh Ashoori.

Richard told supporters on the Free Nazanin Twitter account: "Today I have promised Nazanin to end the hunger strike. Gabriella needs two parents. Thank you all for your overwhelming care these past three weeks. The last act of the hunger strike will be our patchwork event in front of the Foreign Office at 13.30, then I will be going to the hospital for a full check-up. Thank you for keeping our family in the light."

His message was accompanied by a picture of him holding placard saying: 'Love is a verb not a noun. It is a doing word. Thank you for all you have done for our family. #Free Nazanin'

Richard told ICN on Friday: "My job as a husband and father is to do everything I can do bring Nazanin home."

Throughout his protest, Richard has been calling for the British government to pay a £400m debt to Tehran, dating back to the 1970s. The British debt is acknowledged as a precondition for the release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe, as well as other detainees.

He met Middle East minister, James Cleverly,earlier this week to discuss the situation, but said afterward it left him feeling 'deflated'.

"We're still stuck in the same problems that led us to end up on hunger strike," he said.

The cause of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been supported by church leaders, politicians of all parties and academics since she was arrested.

Professor Francis Davis, Director of Policy and the the Edward Cadbury Centre and professor of religion, communities, and public policy in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Birmingham told ICN: "Every Catholic should be concerned that the PM has not made the time to visit Ratcliffe and visibly signal to Iran that he and his government is supportive of her cause and the whole Ratcliffe family.

"First he fumbled at the despatch box putting her at risk and now he won't sanction paying a debt that the Government has accepted it owes increasing the likelihood that she and others will be, and remain, incarcerated...this sadly signals that second jobs and private loans are OK for MPs while the lives of innocent people are squandered."

Raising the issue in the House of Lords on 30 October, Lord Alton of Liverpool (CB) said: "... the shocking treatment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe throws into sharp relief the appalling human rights track record of Iran, does it not? Will the Minister therefore talk specifically about the recent executions of some of the 2019 protesters and the despicable intimidation of members of staff at the BBC Persian service and their families?"

Colette Joyce from Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace told ICN: "The case of Nazanin is truly shocking. We've all admired Richard's dedication to campaigning for his wife's release and urge the UK government to secure her freedom."

More than three million people have signed the Free Nazanin Ratcliffe petition. If you would like to join them click HERE