‘Trials in Iran are systematically unfair’ - Mansoureh Mills

Responding to news that Anoosheh Ashoori, a UK-Iranian dual-national, has been jailed for ten years in Iran on espionage charges, Mansoureh Mills, Amnesty International’s Iran Researcher, said:

“We’re seeking further information on the case, which of course comes against the deeply disturbing backdrop of numerous dual-nationals being targeted in Iran.

“Anoosheh Ashoori has reportedly been subjected to months of solitary confinement and was denied access to a lawyer of his choosing, forcing him to represent himself at trial. 

“Trials in Iran are systematically unfair, something that other dual-nationals like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe have also been put through. 

“The UK Government should make urgent representations on behalf of all British nationals imprisoned or detained awaiting trial in Iran.” 

Numerous cases

Anoosheh Ashoori is among a number of UK-Iranian dual-nationals, British nationals or individuals with close ties to the UK to have been detained in relation to serious charges in Iran in recent years. Overall, scores of people in the country have been imprisoned on spurious national security charges.

For more on Iran’s human rights record - go here.