Jailed charity worker told to wait on Iranian prison decision

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s month-long period of freedom is due to end this weekend

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been out of Tehran's Evin prison since March. Reuters

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she must wait until Sunday before she learns if she has to return to an Iranian prison after a month on temporary release.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual-national, was released from Evin jail in Tehran on March 17 while authorities grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. She has to wear an electronic tag and remain close to her Iranian parents’ home.

The charity worker was first detained in April 2016 as she prepared to return to Britain after visiting her parents with her young daughter.

Her family spoke with the prosecutor’s office on Saturday to find out if her furlough will be extended beyond the weekend. They were told to come back on Sunday.

A judicial spokesman had indicated on Iranian television that her furlough would be extended but there has been no confirmation, the family campaign said on Twitter.

“It’s disconcerting that this was announced on TV, but not confirmed directly to Nazanin's lawyer or family,” the Free Nazanin campaign said.

“There comes a point where this repeated uncertainty ends up feeling like mind games, particularly in the sleepless small hours."

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed for five years and accused by state media of seeking to undermine the regime through her work with charitable arms of media organisations. Her supporters say she is a political pawn in a diplomatic battle between Tehran and London.