Anoosheh Ashoori, a 72-year-old British businessman who was detained in Tehran's Evin prison alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and released on the same day, has completed the London marathon to raise funds for rescuing dogs in Iran.
Marathon Effort for Canine Welfare
Ashoori finished Sunday's race in 5 hours and 57 minutes, raising £3,400 to support private dog shelters in Iran. He described the treatment of pet dogs by the Iranian authorities as appalling, stating that dogs are poisoned and shot by municipal workers.
"I could hear shots fired at night. Municipality workers shot them. Many did not die immediately and we heard them howling in pain. I was helpless to help these poor creatures," Ashoori recalled from his time in jail, where he spent 1,677 days as a hostage.
Support for Shelters
Ashoori emphasised the need for discretion, saying, "We are not mentioning the names of the dog shelters, as the authorities could go to those shelters and either extort money from them or close them down." The funds raised will help treat and rehome dogs outside Iran.
Continued Friendship with Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Ashoori remains close friends with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, with whom he shared the ordeal. "Nazanin and I have been in very regular contact, and we both support change in Iran. The last time we were together was on the anti far-right march in London about a month ago, in the Amnesty International group," he said.
Personal Sacrifice
To participate in the marathon, Ashoori postponed a shoulder operation. "I even postponed my shoulder operation until next week just so I could run the marathon," he explained.
Broader Campaign for Change
Ashoori's efforts extend beyond animal welfare. "What is happening in Iran is creating suffering for all beings – human and animal – being tyrannised by the regime," he said. "My first four marathons were for raising awareness of atrocities against humans via Hostages International and Amnesty International."
He urged citizens to pressure governments to ban the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. "We can use all the power we have as citizens, by being vocal, reach out to our MPs, and ask them to pressure the government," he added.
Lessons from Prison
Reflecting on his imprisonment, Ashoori shared key lessons: "Always know that perseverance pays off. And rule number two is: never forget rule number one." He believes that hope and effort are vital to achieving change in Iran.
Background
Ashoori, a British-Iranian businessman, was arrested in August 2017 while visiting his mother in Iran. In August 2019, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of spying for Israel's Mossad and acquiring illegitimate wealth. He and Zaghari-Ratcliffe were released on 16 March 2022.
His fundraising page can be found at JustGiving.
