Iran frees captives held for 5, 6 years

Today, Iranian authorities freed two British-Iranian nationals imprisoned in the country for five and six years. One captive, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, was arrested in 2016. The other captive, Anoosheh Ashoori, was arrested in 2017. Nazanin was a project manager for Thompson Reuters Foundation when she was arrested, and Anoosheh was a businessman.

Iranian authorities accused Nazanin of trying to โ€œoverthrowโ€ the countryโ€™s government. She denied the charge. The authorities accused Anoosheh of โ€œspying for Israelโ€™s Mossadโ€ and โ€œacquiring illegitimate wealthโ€. He denied both charges.

When Nazanin was imprisoned, Iranโ€™s Revolutionary Guard blindfolded and interrogated her, and left her in solitary confinement. Last year, a report said she suffered major depression and PTSD. A foreign secretary said Iranโ€™s treatment of Nazanin โ€œamounts to tortureโ€. Nazanin has a daughter who is seven years old, who was an infant when her mother was arrested.

When Anoosheh was imprisoned, authorities forced him to sign โ€˜confessionsโ€™ while he was sleep deprived, according to Amnesty International. His wife claims he tried to kill himself twice, and went on a 17-day hunger strike. He has now written a piece in The Guardian about his experience.

โ€œI have to stop the feeling of pure rage or of self-pity. Break isnโ€™t a choice; only survivalโ€.

A BBC report from early today said the two are on their way home to the UK.

 

SOURCE: The Guardian | BBC | BBC | BBC

Iran frees captives held for 5, 6 years | News by Thaiger

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Tara Abhasakun

A Thai-American dual citizen, Tara has reported news and spoken on a number of human rights and cultural news issues in Thailand. She holds a Bachelorโ€™s Degree in history from The College of Wooster. She interned at Southeast Asia Globe, and has written for a number of outlets. Tara reports on a range of Thailand news issues.

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