Anoosheh Ashoori is returning to the UK alongside fellow British-Iranian, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, after being imprisoned in Iran for nearly 5 years.
Mr Ashoori, 67, is a retired civil engineer and father-of-two who was born in Iran and holds twin nationality. In 2017, he was arrested on a routine journey to the nation to go to his mom.
He was accused of passing intelligence to Israel’s Mossad intelligence company and illicitly buying cash – prices which he denies – and was sentenced to 12 years in jail in 2019.
(L-R) Aryan Ashoori, Sherry Izadi and Elika Ashoori, the son, spouse and daughter of Mr Ashoori, protested exterior Downing Road in 2021.
(PA)
He has been detained in Evin jail in Tehran ever since, and his household stated he has undergone months of solitary confinement, threats to his household’s security and abusive interrogations with out a lawyer.
Mr Ashoori had been dwelling within the UK for greater than 20 years upon his arrest and visited his then 86-year-old mom in Iran as she was having knee surgical procedure.
In an interview with the BBC, his daughter, Elika Ashoori, stated she hasn’t seen her father since August 2017.
Ms Ashoori stated whereas in Iran, her father was pulled right into a van, had a bag put over his head then was advised he was being arrested.
She stated she collapsed on the information of her father’s arrest. She stated: “Evin is infamous for being horrific. Every room is shared by 15 to twenty folks, they’ve rats and cockroaches… it’s terrible situations.”
Mr Ashoori pictured together with his household earlier than his arrest
(Sherry Izadi/Change.org)
Ms Ashoori added that her father has tried to take his personal life twice since being imprisoned.
In January, Mr Ashoori additionally started a starvation strike “within the hope of bringing international consideration” to folks held in Iranian prisons, in accordance with assertion from his daughter on Twitter.
In a press release, his spouse, Sherry Izadi, described her husband as a “peaceable, conscientious, type, and upright husband and father.”
She added: “He has by no means been concerned in any political exercise however has been sentenced to 12 years in Evin Jail for spying for Israel. His life-long curiosity has been to give you improvements to construct safer earth-quake resistant properties, for which he received an award.
“He has by no means held any authorities posts or been aware of any state secrets and techniques. I imagine he’s getting used as a bargaining chip in negotiations between the UK and Iran – sacrificed for a being a British-Iranian twin nationwide.”
Mr Ashoori’s spouse described her husband as a “peaceable, conscientious, type, and upright husband and father.”
(Sherry Izadi/FreeAnoosheh.com)
On Wednesday morning, it was introduced by attorneys that Mr Ashoori would return to the UK after virtually 5 years in jail in Iran.
He, alongside Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, reportedly travelled to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Worldwide Airport to return again to the UK, however his spouse has described the scenario as “fluid”.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured along with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and their now six-year-old daughter, Gabriella, is reportedly on the best way to the UK after being imprisoned in Iran.
(PA)
Ms Izadi stated Mr Ashoori’s household wouldn’t be talking publicly till he’s again residence.
In a household assertion learn by Sky Information, she stated: “The scenario remains to be fluid and given we’ve been ready for Anousheh’s launch for 5 years we’ll solely converse publicly as soon as he’s again residence.”
Mr Ashoori and Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe are amongst dozens of British-Iranian nationals who’ve been imprisoned in Iran.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
