Nazanin Zaghari and Narges Mohammadi End Their Hunger Strike

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband stated on Wednesday, January 26, that Nazanin and Narges Mohammadi, the vice president and spokesperson of the Human Rights Defenders Center, have ended their hunger strike. According to the report, prison officials have agreed to treat these two political prisoners outside of prison. Nazanin Zaghari and Narges Mohammadi had gone on hunger strike on Tuesday in protest against the lack of medical attention by prison authorities. These two political prisoners stated that a trusted physician from the prison organization had issued a written report ordering that they be treated urgently at medical centers, but prison officials had prevented this for unknown reasons. Richard Ratcliffe announced in a statement that Nazanin and Narges ended their hunger strike today and would not continue it after three days. On Wednesday, Gabriella, Nazanin's daughter, and her mother were able to visit her in prison, and Nazanin's lawyer was also present at this meeting. Ratcliffe added that Nazanin's lawyer confirmed during the visit that they had received permission from prison officials for Nazanin and Narges to receive treatment outside of prison. Mr. Ratcliffe also mentioned that his wife has a lump in her breast and experiences numbness in her hands and feet. The statement added that Nazanin's family is set to schedule an appointment with a specialist for her. Ratcliffe also noted that prosecutors have expressed concern about excessive attention to this case. The issue of Nazanin Zaghari and Narges Mohammadi's access to medical assistance outside of prison led the British Foreign Secretary to summon the Iranian ambassador in London to protest Nazanin Zaghari's situation in prison. Jeremy Hunt tweeted: 'I summoned the Iranian ambassador and demanded access for her [Zaghari] to her needs and medical assistance. Her continued detention is completely unacceptable, and the way Iranian authorities are treating her in prison is a violation of fundamental human rights.' Meanwhile, Nazanin Zaghari's husband stated that security agents had suggested to her that she spy for them in Britain in exchange for her freedom from prison, but she rejected this request. On the same day, the Tehran prosecutor stated that according to a report he received 'last night, in contact with the family, granting leave and medical facilities receives the most attention' for 'convicted and accused' security prisoners in Iran. The Tehran prosecutor identified Nazanin Zaghari and 'several others' as 'convicts' who have been sentenced for 'serious crimes and have one of the heaviest charges.' Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested in April 2016 while traveling to Iran with her young daughter and was accused of 'attempting to overthrow' the Iranian government, charges that she and her lawyer have denied.