Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe

[heretoday]

Great story. She can rejoin her family after their ordeal - the reasons for which are still not completely clear.

[lapsedhibee]

Great story. She can rejoin her family after their ordeal - the reasons for which are still not completely clear.

Not just as simple as UK nicking Iran's £400 million 40 years ago and not giving it back till this week?

[davy67 +]

It's great news , I just hope that de Pfeffel doesn't try to bask in the glory. It was his words that caused her to kept in detention in the first place .
It obvious a deep of some kind has been done , I'm sure it's got nothing to do with our need to find a replacement for Russian oil :wink::wink:

[Jones28]

Her poor daughter has been without a mum since 2016, I can’t see her age reported anywhere but she looks no older than 8. Delighted for the family after such an incredible effort from her husband.

[Sir David Gray]

Her poor daughter has been without a mum since 2016, I can’t see her age reported anywhere but she looks no older than 8. Delighted for the family after such an incredible effort from her husband.

She's 8 in June.

Absolutely brilliant news.

[stu in nottingham]

It's a joyeus day for that family. Things will need to be taken very carefully after the trauma of what has happened and I hope they receive lots of help and support with that.

[JimBHibees]

Great news. As alluded above our great leaders comments didn't help her one bit. Glad she is home for her husband and young kid.

[Bostonhibby]

Absolutely delighted this poor woman who was nothing more than a pawn caught in a political mess is now free.

Amazed that Johnson - who was at best ambiguous in his dealings over the whole affair when he tried to be a foreign secretary- has allowed Truss to get the first photo opportunity grab on this one.

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[WhileTheChief..]

Great news. As alluded above our great leaders comments didn't help her one bit. Glad she is home for her husband and young kid.

Liz Truss played a blinder though, I'm sure you'll be quick to credit her?

[lapsedhibee]

Liz Truss played a blinder though, I'm sure you'll be quick to credit her?
Haven't actually seen in the reports exactly how she managed it, when so many others didn't. Is there a link to an analysis of that?

[Kato]

Haven't actually seen in the reports exactly how she managed it, when so many others didn't. Is there a link to an analysis of that?No. The explanation has to be delivered in a footballised version, like "you lost, get over it", therefore "played a blinder".

Maybe the country just need energy so the UK have divvied up on a debt they hoped to have gotten away with paying 40 years ago, or something.

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[lapsedhibee]

Maybe the country just need energy so the UK have divvied up on a debt they hoped to have gotten away with paying 40 years ago, or something.


That's kinda how I was thinking, but then shirley a government minister wouldn't try to take undue credit for that?

[Kato]

That's kinda how I was thinking, but then shirley a government minister wouldn't try to take undue credit for that?https://twitter.com/cazzlebrook/status/1504048564850282507?t=waKptptf-0HTw-40Om_mpA&s=19


£530,000. Not from Liz Truss's own pocket or whichever oligarch sponsors her.

She probably would have been released long ago if Johnson hadn't lied about her "teaching journalism" which was a very weird thing to make up.

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[DH1875]

Ive just realised that 2 of them were released. Why all the fuss about this lady and not much about the guy that's been released with her.

[ronaldo7]

Ive just realised that 2 of them were released. Why all the fuss about this lady and not much about the guy that's been released with her.

Maybe his family took the foreign office advice to stay quiet on the subject, and let them deal with it. Mr Ratcliffe on the other hand decided to go public in all sorts of ways to keep his wife's name in the public view, and by all accounts won his wife's freedom, through his tenacity.

[JimBHibees]

Liz Truss played a blinder though, I'm sure you'll be quick to credit her?

Yes if she has done anything more worthy than paying back a 400m debt to release someone Johnson had a hand in getting jailed.

[hibsbollah]

It's a joyeus day for that family. Things will need to be taken very carefully after the trauma of what has happened and I hope they receive lots of help and support with that.

:agree:

Good luck to her after such a deeply traumatic experience.

[Sir David Gray]

A British-US national temporarily released from prison in Iran two days ago has been returned to jail, his family says.

Morad Tahbaz, who also holds Iranian citizenship, had been released on furlough on the same day two other dual British nationals were released.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori have since returned to the UK and been reunited with their families.

Mr Tahbaz, 66, was doing conservation work when he was held in January 2018.

The authorities accused him and seven other conservationists of collecting classified information about Iran's strategic areas under the pretext of carrying out environmental and scientific projects.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-60800671

[hibsbollah]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.

[JimBHibees]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.

Pretty much. :agree:

[Bristolhibby]

Ive just realised that 2 of them were released. Why all the fuss about this lady and not much about the guy that's been released with her.

Ones an old dude, the other is a woman with a cute daughter. It’s that simple.

There’s still another citizen waiting to be released. And as has been said, they are the lucky ones, they have a foreign passport. There’s 1000s of Iranians with no hope of release.

J

[Bristolhibby]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.

Pathetic. I see Jeremy Hunt makes a much more open and frank point on his Twitter.

“Those criticizing Nazanin have got it so wrong. She doesn’t owe us gratitude: we owe her an explanation…”

Link here

https://twitter.com/jeremy_hunt/status/1506161155231952897?s=21

[JeMeSouviens]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.

#sendherback now trending on twitter :rolleyes:

[JeMeSouviens]

Liz Truss played a blinder though, I'm sure you'll be quick to credit her?

Funnily enough, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe didn't.

The UK finally paid its £400M debt to Iran. Then in a completely unconnected move, NZ-R was released.

Also completely unconnectedly, the west is threatened by insecure energy supplies from Russia and Iran could help out with that, if it chose to, completely unconnectedly likes.

[hibsbollah]

#sendherback now trending on twitter :rolleyes:

**** sake. Twitter really is the equivalent of throwing your own excrement at the wall so other people can look at it.

[Kato]

https://twitter.com/joncstone/status/1505890679872008198?t=EyArl2apxQdDalaH9zz5tQ&s=19

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[hibsbollah]

Pathetic. I see Jeremy Hunt makes a much more open and frank point on his Twitter.

“Those criticizing Nazanin have got it so wrong. She doesn’t owe us gratitude: we owe her an explanation…”

Link here

https://twitter.com/jeremy_hunt/status/1506161155231952897?s=21

Jeremy Hunt has come out of this really well. Hunt, Corbyn and Siddiq not natural bedfellows but he’s definitely been following his conscience not party discipline.

[Ryan91]

#sendherback now trending on twitter :rolleyes:


**** sake. Twitter really is the equivalent of throwing your own excrement at the wall so other people can look at it.

#ungratefulcow also trending on twitter, some really truly vile folks out there.

[hibsbollah]

Marina Hyde bang on again.

Nazanin is grateful, but is she grateful enough? I don’t know but the trolls will tell us | Marina Hyde | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/22/nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-iran-hostage-speaks-out)

[He's here!]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.

Wholly understandable she feels such frustration and I imagine she faces significant challenges re-adjusting to life with a family she has been separated from for so long. While I'm guessing she's been able to keep in touch with her daughter via Zoom etc, she has effectively missed an enormous chunk of her formative years. Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to question why she reserved her criticism only for the UK authorities. The Iranian regime which held her against her will for six years should shoulder a hefty chunk of the blame you'd think?

[ronaldo7]

Wholly understandable she feels such frustration and I imagine she faces significant challenges re-adjusting to life with a family she has been separated from for so long. While I'm guessing she's been able to keep in touch with her daughter via Zoom etc, she has effectively missed an enormous chunk of her formative years. Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to question why she reserved her criticism only for the UK authorities. The Iranian regime which held her against her will for six years should shoulder a hefty chunk of the blame you'd think?

A debt due for 40 years possibly had the Iranians a bit miffed. Even after going to court, winning, and then winning the appeal, it probably raised their hackles a bit more when a delegation sent to the UK to negotiate the repayment were detained for a few days by the border force, only to be sent packing without any negotiations taking place

Poor lassie never stood a chance when the Iranians decided enough was enough, and did some detaining of their own.

She should take the UK Gov for all she can get after the disgraceful way she's been treated. When she's done with them, Im sure her sights will be trained on the Iranians.

[Bostonhibby]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.Biting the hand that kept her there by engaging mouth before thinking, then set about delivering on getting her out by, er, um, not getting her out but moving onto the next big mess and leaving that mess behind?

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[Kato]

Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to question why she reserved her criticism only for the UK authorities.

Did she or is this one of your guesses?


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[hibsbollah]

Wholly understandable she feels such frustration and I imagine she faces significant challenges re-adjusting to life with a family she has been separated from for so long. While I'm guessing she's been able to keep in touch with her daughter via Zoom etc, she has effectively missed an enormous chunk of her formative years. Nevertheless, I don't think it's unreasonable to question why she reserved her criticism only for the UK authorities. The Iranian regime which held her against her will for six years should shoulder a hefty chunk of the blame you'd think?

You sound like a character that Marina Hyde is channelling with that end to your post.

[Kato]

Horrible system to live under, a theocracy. You'd think when the population of Iran had a mega rich monarch with a kleptocratic business/political class they'd be more grateful.

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[He's here!]

A debt due for 40 years possibly had the Iranians a bit miffed. Even after going to court, winning, and then winning the appeal, it probably raised their hackles a bit more when a delegation sent to the UK to negotiate the repayment were detained for a few days by the border force, only to be sent packing without any negotiations taking place

Poor lassie never stood a chance when the Iranians decided enough was enough, and did some detaining of their own.

She should take the UK Gov for all she can get after the disgraceful way she's been treated. When she's done with them, Im sure her sights will be trained on the Iranians.

Yes will nobody think of the poor Iranians? That's clearly the main takeaway from this.

Arguably little surprise the UK bailed on the deal at the time given it coincided with such a momentous upheaval in the way Iran was governed. Hardly a stable regime to be sending tanks to.

And if that debt is actually what lies at the heart of this why the trumped up charges of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government? Why not just come out and say we're holding these innocent people against their will until we get that money back for the tanks we didn't get? Possibly because it would make them look even less humane I guess...

[He's here!]

You sound like a character that Marina Hyde is channelling with that end to your post.

Don't agree. I'm a fan of Hyde as a journalist too and agree with lot of what she writes there (apart from the fact she seems to think it's exclusively men who would take a pop at Zaghari-Ratcliffe). I made it pretty clear I can see why gratitude might not be her foremost emotion.

[hibsbollah]

Don't agree. I'm a fan of Hyde as a journalist too and agree with lot of what she writes there (apart from the fact she seems to think it's exclusively men who would take a pop at Zaghari-Ratcliffe). I made it pretty clear I can see why gratitude might not be her foremost emotion.

Then why can’t you allow her to express herself the way she wants to express herself after her ordeal? Maybe she is reserving most of her opprobrium for the U.K. Govt because she believes that’s where the actual fault lies? And certainly the offensive tweets do seem to have been written by men, so Hyde has that right too.

It’s fairly obvious the Tory establishment originally saw this story as an opportunity for positive spin. When Mr and Mrs ZR decided not to play the game, because they knew more than the hacks did, the claws came out, in the newspapers and on the twittersphere that has become indistinguishable from what we used to call journalism with a dollop of subtext of race thrown in. It’s actually sickening.

[stu in nottingham]

For my money, after being locked up unlawfully for six long years in a foreign country I'll reserve the right for her to say and think what the f*** she likes. None of it comparible to the nightmare she has been through for so many years.

She seems like a great and strong woman to me with many qualities. My hope is that reintegrating back into her family and relationship goes smoothly and lot of patience and care is shown from all parties. You try to understand how that might feel. All those years of not being together and there might naturally be an expectation that things will now be 'perfect' after long years of longing. Life isn't always like that but I certainly hope it is for this couple.

[greenginger]

A debt due for 40 years possibly had the Iranians a bit miffed. Even after going to court, winning, and then winning the appeal, it probably raised their hackles a bit more when a delegation sent to the UK to negotiate the repayment were detained for a few days by the border force, only to be sent packing without any negotiations taking place

Poor lassie never stood a chance when the Iranians decided enough was enough, and did some detaining of their own.

She should take the UK Gov for all she can get after the disgraceful way she's been treated. When she's done with them, Im sure her sights will be trained on the Iranians.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-56376852

I think the EU sanctions on Iran from 2009 played a part in the debt not being repaid after Iran winning court case.

[hibsbollah]

For my money, after being locked up unlawfully for six long years in a foreign country I'll reserve the right for her to say and think what the f*** she likes. None of it comparible to the nightmare she has been through for so many years.

She seems like a great and strong woman to me with many qualities. My hope is that reintegrating back into her family and relationship goes smoothly and lot of patience and care is shown from all parties. You try to understand how that might feel. All those years of not being together and there might naturally be an expectation that things will now be 'perfect' after long years of longing. Life isn't always like that but I certainly hope it is for this couple.

:agree: I liked the bit in the interview about brushing her daughters hair being the highlight of her return. A lovely bit of relatable human interest that all parents can relate to, in stark contrast to the reactions.

[Moulin Yarns]

I see NZR is now being savaged by Tory MEPs and right wing commentators for having the temerity to criticise it taking FIVE Home Secretaries over 6 years. ‘Biting the hand that saved her…does she bear no responsibility for being in that country in the first place?’ muses Tory MEP.

Subtext=she’s not really British.

Surely there are no longer any tory MEPs????

[ronaldo7]

Yes will nobody think of the poor Iranians? That's clearly the main takeaway from this.

Arguably little surprise the UK bailed on the deal at the time given it coincided with such a momentous upheaval in the way Iran was governed. Hardly a stable regime to be sending tanks to.

And if that debt is actually what lies at the heart of this why the trumped up charges of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government? Why not just come out and say we're holding these innocent people against their will until we get that money back for the tanks we didn't get? Possibly because it would make them look even less humane I guess...

I'm surprised you've taken what you have from this. The poor woman is allowed to blame whomever she wants. Just because she doesn't mention the Iranians, then the **** hits the fan in your mind. Good for you. 👍

They didn't get/need the tanks. Just the return of their money, but if the UK can stiff anyone, so be it.

[ronaldo7]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-56376852

I think the EU sanctions on Iran from 2009 played a part in the debt not being repaid after Iran winning court case.

I saw that too.

Their are many ways to skin a cat. The UK government have negotiated with terrorists, they could have paid if they wanted to.

[greenginger]

I saw that too.

Their are many ways to skin a cat. The UK government have negotiated with terrorists, they could have paid if they wanted to.


And break EU sanctions on Iran ?

[ronaldo7]

And break EU sanctions on Iran ?

Tories don't care about rules. They lie to their Queen Ffs. 😂

[Kato]

https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1149752666110619648?t=lc8dFthwE2DMbAqH04DSUg&s=19

"Teaching Journalism". I don't believe for a second Johnson made a mistake when he said that. She might have been out years ago without the Fat Distraction saying that.


Does anyone on here know exactly what went on.? Opaque dealings with two regimes not exactly on the best of terms, each with their own reasons.

Geopolitics requires the UK, and other countries, seek and release oil supplies beyond which were foreseen.

The money wasn't handed over to release any prisoner. So I don't understand why she should be grateful to anyone or why the usual twisted zoomers think she should cow-tow and scrimp to someone who stands beside a flag in photos for living.

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[greenginger]

Tories don't care about rules. They lie to their Queen Ffs. 😂


And breaking E U sanctions would have been ok then.

Its as well for the lady were out the EU as their sanctions are still in place and she’d still be in the Iran.

[ronaldo7]

And breaking E U sanctions would have been ok then.

Its as well for the lady were out the EU as their sanctions are still in place and she’d still be in the Iran.

What took them so long?

If it was the eu sanctions that was stopping them paying up, they'd have had the suitcases filled and ready to go on Feb 1st 2020. Sleeping on the job again.

[weecounty hibby]

And breaking E U sanctions would have been ok then.

Its as well for the lady were out the EU as their sanctions are still in place and she’d still be in the Iran.

Congratulations, you should contact Rees Mogg. You have found the Brexit bonus. Leaving the EU meant the UK could pay its debt and free a woman from jail. I'm sure if you continue to look hard enough you'll find others.

[hibsbollah]

https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1149752666110619648?t=lc8dFthwE2DMbAqH04DSUg&s=19

"Teaching Journalism". I don't believe for a second Johnson made a mistake when he said that. She might have been out years ago without the Fat Distraction saying that.


Does anyone on here know exactly what went on.? Opaque dealings with two regimes not exactly on the best of terms, each with their own reasons.

Geopolitics requires the UK, and other countries, seek and release oil supplies beyond which were foreseen.

The money wasn't handed over to release any prisoner. So I don't understand why she should be grateful to anyone or why the usual twisted zoomers think she should cow-tow and scrimp to someone who stands beside a flag in photos for living.

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I remember that at the time and it makes no more sense now than it does then. Who makes mistakes like that? Are they mistakes at all? Who benefits?

[JimBHibees]

I remember that at the time and it makes no more sense now than it does then. Who makes mistakes like that? Are they mistakes at all? Who benefits?

Clearly not a mistake and it would have been said for a reason. I have vague recollections him saying something like she probably was spying but honestly not sure if that is correct