← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Unknown
16 November 2021
Lead MP
Tulip Siddiq
Hampstead and Highgate
Lab
Responding Minister
James Cleverly
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Word Count: 3841
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Tulip Siddiq raised concerns about unknown in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government needs to settle any debts owed to Iran without linking it to hostage negotiations, ensuring these cases do not become entangled in complex nuclear discussions. I urge the government to take immediate action and bring these individuals home.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
I am concerned about the cases of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Anousheh Ashouri, Morad Tahbaz, and Mehran Raoof. These individuals are British citizens who have been unjustly imprisoned in Iran. The issue is not just about paying a ransom but settling a historical debt that the UK owes to Iran.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
I visited Richard Ratcliffe during his 16-day hunger strike and witnessed the pain he endures. The Government's refusal to pay a historical debt owed to Iran is causing unnecessary suffering for these families.
Janet Daby
Lab
Lewisham East
I thank my hon. Friend for securing this essential debate and mentioning Anousheh Ashouri, a 67-year-old British citizen imprisoned in Iran. It is a crime for our country not to settle any debts that are keeping these hostages there. Ms. Janet Daby intervened to ask the Minister about her constituent Anousheh Ashouri, specifically inquiring whether she has received diplomatic protection from the Government.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Jeremy Corbyn emphasised the need for the UK to pay its debt owed to Iran, arguing it was not a negotiation but an obligation. He also called for the release of other detained individuals such as Anousheh Ashouri, Mehran Raoof and Morad Tahbaz.
Jeremy Hunt
Con
Godalming
I salute Richard Ratcliffe for his bravery in campaigning for Nazanin's release. The debt owed to Iran should be settled without linking it to hostage negotiations, despite the difficulty posed by sanctions.
Margaret Ferrier
SNP
Renfrewshire North
There is a risk that Nazanin's case and Anousheh Ashouri's case will be used as leverage in the nuclear negotiations starting on 29 November. We need a plan to ensure these cases do not get caught up in these discussions.
Munira Wilson
Lib Dem
Twickenham
Given that Nazanin has been granted diplomatic protection, I ask how the Government is treating her case differently from other consular cases and if Anousheh Ashouri should also be granted diplomatic protection.
Patrick Grady paid tribute to SNP and Plaid Cymru Members who have campaigned for Richard's cause but were unable to speak. He criticised the Government's inaction regarding Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case, highlighting that repayment of debt could lead to a major shift in Iranian policy.
Valerie Vaz
Lab
Walsall North
The Ratcliffe family and others are British citizens who can get diplomatic protection under the Hague convention. I urge the Minister to look at this convention and realise that there is not a single obstacle stopping us from bringing these individuals home.
Wayne David
Lab
Caerphilly
Mr. Wayne David expressed concern over the continued detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other dual nationals in Iran, highlighting that this situation has persisted for five and a half years despite repeated efforts by British Governments to secure their release.
Government Response
James Cleverly
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Charles. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn (Tulip Siddiq) for securing the debate and for her tireless work in supporting Nazanin and Richard and in championing this issue. Although there have been times when we have disagreed, it is absolutely right that I put on the record our respect for the hon. Lady's passion. The hon. Member for Lewisham East (Janet Daby) mentioned her support for the family of her constituent, and right hon. and hon. Members have spoken about the work that they have done to support family members of those in Iran. Other Members were unable to attend the debate because of ministerial duties—I think particularly of my hon. Friend the Member for North East Hampshire (Mr Jayawardena), who speaks to me regularly about the situation and who is the constituency MP for some of the members of Richard and Nazanin's family. Like all Members of the House and everyone in the country, I have huge sympathy for the families of those who are incarcerated in Iran. The Government will continue to do everything we can to resolve the situation in which they find themselves through no fault of their own. The ongoing suffering that Iran is inflicting on British dual nationals such as Anousheh Ashouri and Morad Tahbaz is deeply distressing and rightly elicits very strong feelings from hon. Members of different parties. I cannot overstate the fact that the Government share that frustration and are unwavering in our commitment to resolve this issue. We have made it clear to the Iranian Government at every stage that we expect Iran to release all British dual nationals and allow them to return home to their families. In today's debate, we are focusing primarily on Nazanin, Richard and Gabriella. The UK Government continue to work tirelessly to secure Nazanin's full, permanent release and ability to return home to her family. As right hon. and hon. Members are aware, Nazanin was released on furlough into the care of her parents in Tehran in 2020, but the Iranian system has refused to let her return home and has not left her alone during the period of furlough. The Government have kept up our campaign of pressure on the Iranian authorities throughout this time, and we will not relent until she is fully and permanently released. At every stage since Nazanin was detained, the UK Government have carefully considered and assiduously pursued the courses of action that we have assessed offer the best opportunity for resolving this case. We have not pursued any course of action that we believe would be counterproductive to the release and return home of those in incarceration. In March 2019, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt) afforded diplomatic protection to Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe. This formally raised it to a state-to-state issue. At that time, he also recognised that that was unlikely to yield immediate results, in part because Iran does not recognise dual national status. Unfortunately, his prediction at the time seems to have been proven right. Since then, this Government have continued to take further action where we judge it will help to secure full and permanent release. We constantly review what other steps are possible, and we weigh up all the diplomatic and legal tools available to secure her release. However, I have made the point already that—I suspect in large part because Iran does not recognise dual nationality and therefore does not recognise our authority to speak on this issue—that has proven to be of limited success in the instance of Nazanin. We will continue to hold the Iranian Government to account for their treatment of the British dual nationals in incarceration, including Anousheh Ashouri and Morad Tahbaz. I assure the House that the Government remain committed to doing whatever we can to secure their release and will continue to work and make representations at every opportunity on their behalf. I remind all Members that it was the Iranian Government who arrested these British dual nationals. It was the Iranian Government who applied these bogus charges against them. It was the Iranian Government who hold these people in incarceration and prevent them from coming home. It is the Iranian Government who are wholly and solely responsible for the appalling circumstances that these people find themselves in. The British Government will continue to work tirelessly to secure their release and return home. I assure everyone in the House that that will remain our priority until they are released and are able to return home.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.