Iran: Ghoncheh Ghavami

Debate between Lord Moynihan and Lord Wallace of Saltaire

Thursday 4th December 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Moynihan]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Iran on behalf of Ghoncheh Ghavami, a joint British and Iranian citizen who was jailed for a year after attending an International Volleyball Federation World League match in Iran.

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD)]

My Lords, the Government have raised the case of Miss Ghoncheh Ghavami with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, most recently on 23 November. We welcome the news that Miss Ghavami has been released on bail, and will remain in close touch with her family.

[Lord Moynihan (Con)]

My Lords, while welcoming the news that following the Foreign Secretary’s intervention, Ghoncheh Ghavami, a British and Iranian national, is no longer serving the sentence of a year in prison for seeking to attend a men-only volleyball match in Tehran, will the Government do all that they can to ensure that the result of her forthcoming appeal does not return her to prison, that all charges against Ghoncheh are dropped and that she is released from her two-year travel ban?

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire]

My Lords, the Government have been actively engaged on this case and will continue to be so.