Dear supporters
Apologies for the long delay in posting an update, but having to deal with numerous problems on many different fronts, I have failed to update this petition as much as I would have liked. I do hope that my shortcomings are forgiven by you, our kind supporters. Today is the three year anniversary of my husband's unlawful detention by the Iranian regime. Obviously, this is not the kind of anniversary one likes to celebrate, but unfortunately, we have no choice. On 13th August 2017, Anoosheh was effectively kidnapped in the street and taken to Evin Prison, where he has been to this date. We have had three years of pain, separation, emotional trauma, suffering, uncertainty, and the odd rare moment of joy (when Anoosheh's cellmates bake him a cake for his birthday every year, despite Evin's meagre resources, and the touching presents he receives from them). This is an ongoing ordeal that is NEVER made any easier by the passage of time. Governments in Britain have changed, foreign ministers have come and gone, shadow foreign ministers have been replaced, and many discussions have taken place between us and the authorities. However, not one of them has yielded any tangible results. Lofty promises have been given, but never delivered on. Kind wishes have been expressed, but not one has come true. Comforting words have been uttered, but that is what they have been left at; mere words, not actions. As if political inaction and prison conditions in themselves weren't dire enough, including hordes of bed bugs, rats, cockroaches, and vermin (human and non-human kind), 2020 has brought a new enemy in the form of COVID-19. Hygiene conditions in Evin Prison are sufficiently appalling for everyday issues, and to say that its already failing health system has collapsed entirely, would be an understatement. Back in April, my husband released a week-long audio diary that detailed Evin's response to the pandemic. The diary outlined a catalogue of failures including medical staff incompetence, extreme shortages of medicine and protective equipment, administrative mistakes that prevented prisoners from being sent on furlough, and increased fighting among prisoners. You can read more about that in the following link:
He did so at major risk to himself as we weren't sure how the Iranian authorities would respond to the embarrassing revelations. Four months on, and we are now witnessing a new and more rampant outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran and subsequently in Evin. There have been 12 confirmed cases and knowing the Iranian authorities' practice of engineering data or the complete denial of facts, there are most likely many more. Proper health protocols and standard quarantine measures are non-existent and Iranian officials are not known for the level of sympathy they show for chronically ill prisoners. Our usual concern for Anoosheh's physical safety has now taken an additional blow by the constant and fatal threat of COVID-19. Nowadays, our first greeting often is: any new cases? Anoosheh is 66 and at greater risk of the disease. Back in March, the FCO told us that they lobbied for furlough to be given to him, but that effort ended in failure. We have expressed our deep concerns to the FCO once again and implored with them to double their efforts to secure him a furlough this time, but we are not optimistic. As Anoosheh says: "Hope for the best, but expect the worst." Please join your voice with ours and help us raise awareness by asking others to sign this petition. We now rely on the public to pressure the government to take positive action. You can also sign the Amnesty Urgent Action to put pressure on the Iranian government.
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actions/jailed-dual-national-denied-dental-care
You will always have our gratitude and our thanks.