Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British citizen who endured six years of arbitrary detention in an Iranian prison, has launched a powerful critique against the UK government, accusing it of being in denial about the scale of state-sponsored hostage-taking and failing to deliver on key promises made to combat the issue.
A Broken Promise and a Call for Accountability
Speaking at a conference focused on eradicating the practice of hostage diplomacy, Zaghari-Ratcliffe revealed that ministers have not fulfilled their vow to appoint a special envoy to lead the UK's response. She was released in March 2022 after being held on bogus espionage charges. She stated that the government possesses a moral duty of care for every citizen arbitrarily detained abroad, but lamented that its current policy is discretionary and unfair, leaving some individuals behind.
The conference was marked by widespread disillusionment from the families of other detainees. They feel the UK has not marshalled its full diplomatic resources to prioritise the release of its nationals, nor does it provide systematic support and advice to those left in agonising limbo.
Families Feel Abandoned by the System
A poignant example came from Joe Bennett, the son of Lindsay Foreman, who is currently imprisoned in Iran on spying charges. He disclosed that the Foreign Office had advised him against publicising his mother's case and even discouraged him from contacting other families who had faced similar crises.
He reported that his mother feels profoundly let down and has begun a hunger strike in protest. Mr Bennett expressed his willingness to join her in the strike if it would spur action, stating, "I think the biggest battle is fighting the government to get them to do something … which shouldn’t be the case." He described the current situation as a stalemate, urging the nation and its leaders to take a more proactive stance.
A Pattern of Inaction and Unmet Commitments
Zaghari-Ratcliffe pointed out that a Foreign Affairs Select Committee inquiry, held in the wake of her case, recommended the establishment of a hostage envoy. She noted that the Foreign Secretary had personally met with her to emphasise the importance of this role. However, the position remains unfilled.
Reflecting on her own ordeal, she shared her initial disbelief: "I also thought, surely no government would take a woman and a baby hostage. That is just cruel. But I was wrong. The politics I was inadvertently stuck in between was ruthless and brutal."
Adding to the criticism, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, a human rights barrister with 25 years of experience, confirmed that little has changed. She expressed shock that despite promises made by the Labour government before the election, the situation for detainees and their families does not feel improved. "It feels like we’re having exactly the same fights," she concluded, underscoring a persistent failure in UK policy.
