Nazanin returned to jail from hospital psychiatric ward

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was moved to the psychiatric ward of Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran on 15 July, the “Free Nazanin” campaign group run by her husband Richard said last week.

“Nazanin has been returned from psychiatric hospital, and is now back in Evin prison,” he said in a statement. She was discharged at her request and the request of the hospital doctor, the campaign group said.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was told she had been admitted to hospital for a 10-day period of assessment. She received psychotherapy sessions, had physical checks and was prescribed some medicines, the campaign group said.

In quotes supplied by the group, Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: “They did all they could to me - handcuffs, ankle cuffs, in a private room 2x3m, with thick curtains, and the door closed all the time. I wasn’t allowed to leave the room, as I was chained to the bed.”

The Iranian embassy in London declined immediate comment on the case.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 at a Tehran airport as she headed back to Britain with her daughter after a family visit, and was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran’s clerical establishment.

Her family and the Foundation deny the charge. ■