PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CONTINUED DETENTION OF NAZANIN ZAGHARI-RATCLIFFE IN IRAN (17 June 2018)

That this House expresses concern regarding the arbitrary detention of dual nationals in Iran, highlighted in the most recent UN Human Rights Resolution on Iran; notes that human rights of UK nationals detained in Iran must be a red line in any future trade deals negotiated with Iran; expresses particular concern regarding the case of Ms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British dual national who has been imprisoned for over 800 days; is worried for the health and safety of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has been kept in solitary confinement for over eight months; emphasises that the UN ruled that her arrest was arbitrary and her trial was conducted in secret courts; expresses further concern that comments made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have been used as evidence against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe; expresses dismay at the Government's failure to acknowledge any violation of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's rights and has failed to condemn the Iranian Government; urges the Government to publicly call for the immediate release of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe; recommends that the Government should make these representations based on its human rights violations; further urges the Government to take a more proactive approach to identifying and intervening in cases where British nationals face human rights violations; urges the Government to improve levels of consular access for UK nationals imprisoned abroad; and calls on the Government to state that in all cases involving British nationals imprisoned abroad, any threat of or actual torture and mistreatment is unacceptable and will be publicly condemned by the Government.

Sponsored by:
Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat)