Dear Supporters, a belated Happy Norooz (Iranian) New Year

Some good news, among all the coronavirus suffering and worry around the world.

Two weeks ago my 80 year old dad (Grandpa) Kamal returned to London to be back with family, to see his kids and grandkids for the first time in nine years.  We’re all overjoyed that he’s with us and seems physically healthy, which feels such a relief given coronavirus worries.

Since late 2018 Dad had been out of Evin prison (or the “34 star hotel” as he calls it!) and living in Tehran, being cared for by close friends.  We’d all been waiting for his Iranian passport to be renewed before he was legally allowed to leave the country and be with us again.  In Tehran Dad received cataracts operations and his eyesight is back to normal, and he has been receiving regular medical check-ups.  We’re all so grateful to Dad’s friends and the excellent doctors and nurses in Tehran who looked after him and kept him well.

Dad’s passport came through in February. We then faced the challenge of getting him booked on a flight that went ahead as planned, with the first flight he was booked on getting cancelled and most other flights full because of coronavirus and New Year.

Thank you all so much for your kind messages, thoughts, prayers and support over the years, and encouragement to see Dad get full medical check-ups and be released and reunited with family. We deeply appreciate you caring and taking the time to sign petitions, share on social media, send such kind birthday messages and write to members of parliament / faith and government ministers / Iranian embassies to ask for their help.

Thank you also to everyone else who helped, including all the Foreign Ministry and United Nations officials, human rights NGOs, ministers and members of parliament.

Dad remained healthy throughout his coronavirus isolation period, with just me for company most of the time. We had plenty to catch up on! He is remarkably happy and peaceful. We hope he stays healthy and will get to see his grandkids soon once these important restrictions are lifted.  The girls can’t wait to give their Grandpa a big hug…or at least an elbow and foot shake!

Thanks again for all your love and care, please stay safe and healthy,
Kamran, and all the Grandpa Kamal family