Detention of Anoosheh Ashoori in Iran

Opened the debate

Janet Daby presented the case of her constituent Anoosheh Ashoori, a British-Iranian dual national imprisoned in Iran since 2017. She detailed his life before imprisonment, highlighting his achievements and family commitments. Daby emphasised that Anoosheh’s only crime is his nationality, having been denied fair legal support during his trial. She criticised the Foreign Office's current strategy as ineffective and urged the government to recognise him as a hostage, not merely a consular case. Daby also questioned the Government's refusal to link prisoner releases with debt resolution, urging for a clearer plan of action for Anoosheh’s release.

Government Response

The Minister offered deepest sympathies to the family and highlighted that Mr Ashoori was detained in Iran under national security charges, despite his appeals. He detailed regular contact with the family since they requested consular assistance in 2018. The Minister reiterated that Iran does not recognise dual nationality, making it difficult for UK officials to visit or provide support to Mr Ashoori. However, he emphasised continuous efforts by the UK Government to secure Mr Ashoori’s release and provided updates on diplomatic representations at senior levels with Iranian counterparts. He assured ongoing consular support, health and welfare concerns raised regularly, and a commitment to work towards better relations for mutual benefits. The Minister maintained that Iran's actions in detaining dual nationals are unacceptable and must end, reaffirming the Government's stance against such practices.