Family of woman held in Iran appeals for her release

Tuesday 16th September 2014 14:27 EDT
 
 

Family of a British Iranian woman who is held in Iran after going to a men's volleyball match have appealed for her release, the BBC reported.

Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, (pictured) was detained after the match in June. Her family say they do not know if she is being held under any charge.

She is now reportedly being held in Tehran's infamous Evin prison.

There was a protest at the time against a ban on women attending, but her brother Iman told BBC 5 Live Breakfast that she was "simply there to get into the stadium and watch the match".

She was released but then re-arrested when she went to collect her belongings a few days later.

The UK Foreign Office said it was aware of reports of a Briton being detained and is "following up" the case.

The FCO says it has "limited ability to assist (UK nationals) in any difficulty" in Iran and that the Iranian authorities are "unlikely to grant any consular access".

She has reportedly not been able to see her lawyer since she had been detained but her parents had been allowed to see her some 50 days after her arrest. She has spent part of her detention in solitary confinement.


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