IRANIAN-British detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been sentenced to five years in an Iranian prison for national security related crimes, following a court’s decision last Sunday to reject her appeal.

The family, including former Farnham boy and husband Richard Ratcliffe, discovered this verdict via the media. In fact Nazanin’s parents were visiting their daughter in Evin prison at the time of the press conference. At this visit, Nazanin did not know anything about the judgement.

Over the phone her lawyer has told the family that her charges are “acting against national security”.

The appeal was held in secret in the presence of a large number of Revolutionary Guards and judiciary. Neither Nazanin nor her lawyer had been allowed to tell the family what happened at her trial in the 18 days since January 4.

The precise changes against Nazanin remain secret – with the continued vague formulation of ‘security related charges’.

However, at Nazanin’s appeal hearing, there were two new accusations, both from the Kerman branch of the Revolutionary Guard.

First, Nazanin was accused of being the head of recruitment for BBC Farsi at the time of its founding and in 2009.

At that time Nazanin worked for just over a year as a project assistant for BBC Media Action (the development charity of the BBC), on a training project for youth in Afghanistan and Iran some seven years ago. She has never worked for BBC Farsi, the broadcaster’s Persian-language news service.

And she has been to Iran on holiday many times since she left that role without there ever being an issue.

Secondly, Nazanin was accused of knowingly being married to a British spy. This is also untrue, her husband, Richard, is an accountant.

The judge rejected all aspects of Nazanin’s defence. He did, however, rule that this was Nazanin’s trial and not her husband’s, and so rejected the charge of being married to a spy on a technicality.

Prior to the appeal coming to court, Nazanin’s lawyer had been personally prosecuted for his role in defending her.

The appeal was presided over by three judges, led by Judge Babai in Revolutionary Court 54.

Her parents are in deep shock at the decision and that this nightmare continues – despite the fact that all their daughter did was come on holiday with her baby.

Sunday marked day 294 of Nazanin’s ongoing ordeal at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

“The lack of justice in Nazanin’s case continues to be a stain on Iran. The continued attempt to frame Nazanin behind secrets and lies brings shame,” said Richard.

“It is a needless waste of a mother and child’s life for their own political bargains and economic interests.

“I had high hopes for the minister’s visit to Iran last week, that it was a fresh chance for us and that justice might be served.”

“And yet this ordeal continues, with all its consequences for Nazanin and Gabriella, and for all of us watching on. It is no way to toy with people’s lives. There is no way we will let it rest. Nazanin will not be forgotten.”