Anniversary of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's Arrest and Efforts to Keep Her Memory Alive

It has been a year since the arrest of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual Iranian-British citizen who was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of acting against national security. On the anniversary of her arrest, her British husband expresses concern for her health, stating that their monthly phone calls have been delayed for six weeks. This anniversary comes as reports indicate another dual citizen, Reza Shahini, has been released on bail. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is 38 years old, a citizen of both Iran and Britain, and the mother of a daughter named Gabriella, who is under three years old. She was arrested exactly a year ago at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport while visiting family for a vacation. Zaghari has worked for the Thomson Reuters Foundation for the past four years, focusing on media development and journalist training in various countries. The Thomson Reuters Foundation has repeatedly stated that Zaghari's work was not related to Iran and that they had no projects concerning the country. Monique Villa, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, reiterates on the anniversary that Zaghari was in Iran to visit her family, emphasizing that she had made similar trips without concern in the past. According to her family, Zaghari has spent nine months of her year-long imprisonment in solitary confinement and has faced significant mental and physical challenges. Richard Ratcliffe, her British husband, states that she has serious neck and back issues requiring medical attention, but permission for treatment has not been granted. Ratcliffe has initiated a two-week campaign encouraging supporters to tie yellow ribbons with messages of freedom to trees, featuring messages from Zaghari and other female political prisoners, including Narges Mohammadi. Ratcliffe explains that these activities aim to remind prisoners like Zaghari that they are not forgotten and that one day their suffering will end. Zaghari was sentenced to five years for acting against national security and is one of several dual nationals imprisoned in Iran. Baqer Namazi, 80, and his son Siamak Namazi, both Iranian-American dual citizens, have each been sentenced to ten years in prison. Karen Vafadari and her husband Afrin Nissari, who does not hold dual citizenship, are also imprisoned but have not received a sentence. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Reza (Robin) Shahini, a dual Iranian-American citizen imprisoned in Golestan Prison, has been released on bail of 200 million tomans after being sentenced to 18 years for charges including collaboration with a hostile government and acting against national security.