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| UK mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe loses Iran jail appeal | UK mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe loses Iran jail appeal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A court in Iran has rejected an appeal against a five-year prison sentence given to a woman with dual British and Iranian citizenship. | A court in Iran has rejected an appeal against a five-year prison sentence given to a woman with dual British and Iranian citizenship. |
| Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe - a charity worker accused of security offences - was detained while trying to leave the country with her baby daughter after visiting relatives in April 2016. | Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe - a charity worker accused of security offences - was detained while trying to leave the country with her baby daughter after visiting relatives in April 2016. |
| Her family denies she broke any laws. | Her family denies she broke any laws. |
| Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, who is from London, said his wife's detention was a "stain" on Iran. | |
| Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 38, who works for the charity the Thomson Reuters Foundation, has been detained in Iran since her arrest last year. | |
| The couple's two-year-old daughter has remained in Iran after the government confiscated her passport, and is being looked after by her grandparents. | The couple's two-year-old daughter has remained in Iran after the government confiscated her passport, and is being looked after by her grandparents. |
| Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family said in September that a Revolutionary Court had handed down the five-year term. | Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family said in September that a Revolutionary Court had handed down the five-year term. |
| She was accused of allegedly plotting to topple the government in Tehran, but the official charges against her were not made public. | She was accused of allegedly plotting to topple the government in Tehran, but the official charges against her were not made public. |
| According to Mr Ratcliffe, his wife's appeal was dismissed in a secret hearing of an Iranian Revolutionary Court on 4 January but only announced on 22 January. | According to Mr Ratcliffe, his wife's appeal was dismissed in a secret hearing of an Iranian Revolutionary Court on 4 January but only announced on 22 January. |
| In a statement, her husband said the precise charges against her remain secret, but that two new accusations were made at her appeal. | In a statement, her husband said the precise charges against her remain secret, but that two new accusations were made at her appeal. |
| One was that she had been head of recruitment for the BBC's Farsi service when it was launched in 2009. Her family say she worked on a BBC training project for youth in Afghanistan and Iran, but never worked for BBC Farsi. | One was that she had been head of recruitment for the BBC's Farsi service when it was launched in 2009. Her family say she worked on a BBC training project for youth in Afghanistan and Iran, but never worked for BBC Farsi. |
| The other charge was that she was married to a British spy. Mr Ratcliffe is an accountant. | The other charge was that she was married to a British spy. Mr Ratcliffe is an accountant. |
| Monique Villa, chief executive of Thomson Reuters Foundation said she is "outraged by this new mockery of justice", and reiterated Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe never worked for BBC Farsi and that her husband "is not a spy but a reputable accountant". | Monique Villa, chief executive of Thomson Reuters Foundation said she is "outraged by this new mockery of justice", and reiterated Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe never worked for BBC Farsi and that her husband "is not a spy but a reputable accountant". |
| "I am fully convinced of Nazanin's innocence," she added. | "I am fully convinced of Nazanin's innocence," she added. |
| 'Needless waste' | |
| Mr Ratcliffe said: "The lack of justice in Nazanin's case continues to be a stain on Iran. The continued attempt to frame Nazanin behind secrets and lies brings shame. | Mr Ratcliffe said: "The lack of justice in Nazanin's case continues to be a stain on Iran. The continued attempt to frame Nazanin behind secrets and lies brings shame. |
| "It is a needless waste of a mother and child's life for their own political bargains and economic interests." | "It is a needless waste of a mother and child's life for their own political bargains and economic interests." |
| Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, meaning those detained cannot receive consular assistance. | Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, meaning those detained cannot receive consular assistance. |
| Since her imprisonment, her family have campaigned on her behalf, highlighting her deteriorating health while in jail and her anguish at her separation from her daughter. | Since her imprisonment, her family have campaigned on her behalf, highlighting her deteriorating health while in jail and her anguish at her separation from her daughter. |