Paris - (AFP) - The families of dual nationals detained in Iran expressed their anger after the country's foreign minister said that a new plan would provide the reassurance of foreign expatriates that they will not be held while they were on their lands..
There are more than ten people holding foreign passports, most of whom are dual nationals, detained in Iran based on accusations that activists say are unfounded aimed at obtaining concessions from the West..
Many European countries are currently warning of dual nationals against traveling to Iran to visit the family or work, saying that it is not possible to ensure that full consulate assistance is provided because Iran does not recognize dual citizenship..
But dual nationalities have long played an important role in business and investment in Iran.The government of President Ibrahim Raisi fears that their absence will exacerbate the economic crisis in a country that is already suffering due to US sanctions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdullahian said that he had informed a committee representing the Iranians abroad that the issue of "double -nationality" must be resolved in Parliament and that a website will be established that you reassured that there will be no problem in travel.
"Some Iranians abroad may fear that they will find it difficult to enter the country through airports.".
He added, "A system is being entered on the Ministry's website to inform these people that they will not face a problem in entering the country and leaving it, and if a problem appears, the ministry will be responsible" to ensure its solution.
Elika Ashouri, who detained her father, Anouj Ashouri, a British citizen of Iranian origin, criticized during a visit to Iran in 2017 and is now a 10 -year prison sentence on charges of espionage that his family says is baseless, the minister's proposal..
"Are you serious?" Wrote on Twitter to the minister?Say to my father, whose life (your government) was destroyed by placing a bag on his head on the street and pushing him in a truck, without any evidence, during his stay.."What did our family do to deserve this?".
The "Free Nazin" group, which was established with the aim of pressure to release the British Iranian citizen Nazine Zagri Ratcliffe, who was suspended during her visit to her family in Tehran in 2016 "instead of creating a website, wouldn't it be easier for the Iranian authorities to stop taking hostages?".
In March 2020, Zaghari Ratcliffe was allowed to leave the prison and imposed house arrest.She has now completed her five -year sentence, but she is still unable to leave Iran and her family fears that she may return to prison after being convicted in another case..
For his part, the Lebanese citizen Nizar Zakka, who lives in the United States, who was arrested in 2015 on charges of espionage for the United States and was released only in June 2019, indicated that he had received an invitation to Iran from the government and then arrested him..
He said that the Revolutionary Guard, which is accused by observers of being behind the wave of arrests, seeks to "deceive" foreign nationals to return to Iran.He added, "This appears to be more warning (than an invitation) for the nationality of nationality not to return to their country.".
