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British Iranian Aid Worker Appears in Iranian Court

VOA News

   British-Iranian charity workerNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
   appearedbeforeIran's Revolutionary CourtSunday, facing charges of
   "propaganda against the system."

   "Legally, the court should announce the verdict in aweek, butit is up
   to the judge. I am very hopeful that she will be acquitted," saidher
   lawyer Hojjat Kermani.

   Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016 on charges that she was plotting
   to overthrow Iran's government, a charge she has denied.

   Kermani said the trialwas held in a"calmatmosphere" and the "final
   defense" was made.

   Zaghari-Ratcliffewas released from house arrest last weekand her ankle
   bracelet was removed, but she was not allowed to travel to join her
   familyinBritain.

   She was released from prison last year in March as the coronavirus
   began to snake around theworld.Shehad been imprisoned for five years.

   British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hassaid Zaghari-Ratcliffe must be
   allowed to returnhometoBritain to herhusband and daughter.

   At the time of her arrest,Zaghari-Ratcliffe worked fortheThomson
   Reuters Foundation,a charity thatoperates independently of media firm
   Thomson Reuters and its news subsidiary Reuters.

   Sunday's trial comes after Redress, a human rights aidorganization,
   released a statementsaying Zaghari-Ratcliffe isin urgent need of
   mentaland physicalhealth careafter enduring hours ofinterrogation while
   blindfolded and solitary confinement.

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