Iran accuses British-Iranian woman of seeking to overthrow government
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 June 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iran accuses British-Iranian woman of seeking to overthrow government, 15 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43bc415.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 15, 2016
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has accused a British-Iranian woman arrested in April of seeking to "overthrow" the clerical establishment.
The IRGC made the accusation in a June 14 statement published by Iranian news sites.
The statement claimed that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, had been involved "in media and cyberprojects [focused on] the soft overthrow of the holy establishment of the Islamic republic."
Similar charges have been leveled in the past against other dual nationals and Iranian intellectuals and activists.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was arrested with her daughter at a Tehran airport on April 3 after visiting family in Iran.
The passport of her 22-month-old daughter, who has only British citizenship, was confiscated.
The IRGC said she was arrested after "an extensive intelligence operation."
The statement said her case had been sent to Tehran for legal proceedings while an investigation by the IRGC continues.
In recent months several dual citizens have been either detained or faced pressure and interrogations by Iranian authorities.
Based on reporting by Fars and Metro.co.uk
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
