A CANDLELIT vigil was organised outside the Welsh National Assembly by the family of a British-Iranian mother, who is being held captive on spying charges in Iran.
Rebecca Ratcliffe, a Cwmbran GP and Marshfield resident, helped to organise the event, in a show of solidarity for her sister-in-law – Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe - and other dual nationals detained in prisons.
Around 50 people attended the service at Senedd, complete with prayers and reading, which include messages of support from the Muslim community who were breaking their Ramadan fasts.
“Nazanin is so proud of her Iranian heritage and of her country. She loves her family,” said Dr Ratcliffe, who was joined by her husband Lim Jones, and children Rosie and Dylan.
“She was arrested on April 3, after what was simply a trip to spend time with the family she loves. This has left Gabriella stranded without either of her parents.”
Dr Ratcliffe’s niece, Gabriella, two, is presently living with her relatives in Tehran, and her mother has been moved to a prison in the Iranian capital.
“Since her mother was moved to Tehran, I believe she has seen her twice,” said Dr Ratcliffe.
“When she and Gabriella last met, they coloured in Peppa Pig together.”
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe works for Reuters Thompson, the charitable arm of the news agency, but visited the country of her birth to see family.
Dr Ratcliffe added that it was important that the ceremonies were multi-cultural, which reflects her family and the community, with Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths and beliefs present.
Before Dr Ratcliffe and her husband spoke, Mohammad Alhadj Ali, a doctor from the University in Wales Hospital led a Muslim prayer and reading at the vigil.
“We wanted to embrace the idea of a candlelight vigil along with the end of the holy month of Ramadan and to reach out to our Muslim friends during this time,” she said.
“It was important to have a multi-faith event as we are a multicultural family.”
“This has been so important in our campaign – to include everyone. At these times of political uncertainty, it is important that we keep that focus alive.”
A second service was held simultaneously in London, organised by Dr Ratcliffe’s brother Richard, and included family members of Kamal Foroughi, a 76-year-old grandfather held in an Iranian prison.
Mr Ratcliffe has started an online petition lobbying for his wife’s release - change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-free-nazanin-ratcliffe
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