UK urged to intensify efforts to secure freedom for British couple jailed in Iran

Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Iran, says the UK must step up its diplomacy to prevent another family from enduring years of separation. The Foremans, Craig and Lindsay, were arrested in January during a motorbike journey from Europe to Australia and face espionage accusations they deny.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has said it treats all allegations of human rights violations very seriously and provides assistance on the basis of each case’s circumstances. A spokesperson noted that the level of influence the UK can exert depends on local conditions and the specifics of every situation.

Mr. Ratcliffe told INLIBER that the government should be more transparent about the strategies it uses to secure consular support and potential negotiations for release, arguing that past delays in Nazanin’s case should not be repeated.

"The assistance we can provide depends on the individual circumstances of the case and the local conditions – the impact and influence we can have will not always be the same," the FCDO said. Still, Mr. Ratcliffe insists the government must be clearer with families about how it plans to help and not pretend the problem will resolve itself.

He also called for a reassessment of how policy is applied in state-hostage situations, saying the current approach places the burden on victims and their families.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian national and charity project manager, was visiting Iran with her daughter when she was detained in 2016. Tehran accused her of attempting to overthrow the state, a charge she denied. She was released in 2022 after a lengthy campaign and negotiations led by her husband.

In the Foremans’ case, their family says they entered Iran with valid visas, a licensed guide, and a pre-approved itinerary. Their son, Joe Bennett of Folkestone, is campaigning full-time for their release and recently disclosed that his mother and Craig launched a hunger strike to press for better conditions, including more phone calls and visits. They have since resumed eating but remain in separate cells at Tehran’s Evin prison and have not yet had a formal trial.

Meanwhile, Anoosheh Ashoori, another British-Iranian detainee, was released on the same flight as Nazanin in 2022 after five years in custody. The story of Nazanin’s detention has inspired a BBC-backed INLIBER drama Project 951, highlighting the personal toll of such cases. In recent interviews, Ratcliffe spoke of the trauma and disorientation his wife endured while imprisoned, underscoring the need for faster, more transparent government action.

With the UK warning against all travel to Iran due to the risk of arbitrary detention, advocates say the government should reaffirm its commitment to protecting dual nationals and British citizens abroad, while refining diplomatic strategies to secure their release more swiftly.

Key Takeaways

• The government emphasizes case-by-case consular support, noting that influence depends on local conditions.
• Families are calling for greater transparency and a more proactive strategy in hostage-like detention scenarios.
• The Nazanin case is used as a benchmark by supporters calling for policy reform and swifter diplomacy.

Expert comment

Dr. Amina Farouk, foreign policy analyst, says transparency and a consistent, predictable approach to state-hostage cases are essential for maintaining trust and achieving timely releases.

Summary

The Foremans’ detention has amplified concerns about how the UK handles British citizens detained abroad. While officials stress a case-by-case approach, families demand clearer, faster, and more transparent action. The Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case continues to influence calls for policy reform and more decisive diplomacy.

Key insight: Strong, transparent diplomacy is essential to prevent long family separations when British citizens are detained abroad. Source: BBC