Written evidence submitted by Roxanne Tahbaz (SLH0029)

 

  1. Submission
    1. From: Roxanne Tahbaz (35), the daughter of Morad Tahbaz (66) & Vida Tahbaz (64)
    2. Subject: This submission to the Select Committee of the House of Commons, with regard to the FCDO’s approach to state level hostage situations has been provided as my father, Morad Tahbaz, still remains, after 4 years and 4 months, in Evin prison (Iran). My mother, Vida Tahbaz, is also on a travel-ban, keeping her within the confines of Iran. In light of the release of both Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori arriving in the UK on 17 March 2022, and the promise, until that fateful day, by the FCDO that my parents too, were a part of the deal that released the other two, we as a family have felt abandoned and betrayed by the British government and humbly request the aid of this Select Committee to help secure the release of our parents, as now 8 weeks has passed since the other detainees were brought home, and we have had no substantive update from the FDCO as to what is being done to reunite our family.

 

  1. Background
    1. Morad Tahbaz is a 66-year-old UK/US/Iranian citizen who has been detained by Iran in Evin prison since 10 January 2018. Morad is a UK citizen by birth, US citizen by naturalisation, and Iranian citizen by virtue of his heritage. He was born in London, at Hammersmith Hospital, attended boarding school in England for many years, and went to university in the United States, where he held his primary residence with his wife Vida Tahbaz, who is also a UK/US/Iranian citizen.
    2. Morad was born in London and has British citizenship as a birthright, equal in status to all other UK citizens. He eventually moved to the United States and became a naturalised US citizen, but he is no less British, and remains entitled to all the privileges and rights of all other UK citizens. It is not up to Iran or any country to dictate his birthright, even by virtue of his heritage.
    3. They have three children, all of whom are UK/US citizens. Roxanne (35) has been working and living in London for over 10 years, Tara (33) resides in the US, with Teymoor (28), who also completed his degree in London.
    4. Morad is a real-estate developer and entrepreneur who always had a passion for wildlife and conservation. His affinity for wildlife and nature began at age 9 when he first subscribed to National Geographic.
    5. He had travelled to Iran only to visit family and to perform volunteer wildlife conservation work for his foundation, Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF), which he did in partnership with the Iranian government, for the benefit of the Iranian people and their environment.
    6. Please see confidential submission for further details

 

  1. Timeline
    1. Morad co-founded the non-profit Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF) in 2008
    2. He left to go to Iran in September 2017
    3. Morad was detained on 10 January 2018, just over 4 years and 4 months ago
    4. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in Evin prison on 20 November 2019
    5. Morad was removed from Evin prison 16 March 2022
    6. Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ashoori left Iran on 16 March 2022, returning to the UK on 17 March 2022
    7. Morad was returned to Evin prison 18 March 2022
    8. He was taken to an undisclosed location on 20 March 2022, where he began his hunger strike
    9. Morad was again returned to Evin prison on 21 March 2022, the morning of the Ratcliffe press conference
    10. He ended his hunger strike on 28 March 2022 at the request of his family amid concerns for his health

 

  1. Health
    1. Morad suffers from complications relating to prostate cancer and carcinoid appendicitis, which may have recurred during his time in prison. He also has hypertension and hyperlipidemia and is at serious risk of a heart attack. His condition over the past four years has been aggravated by extreme weight loss, and lack of adequate medical care.
    2. Morad has also suffered from symptoms of COVID-19 or “coronavirus,” on a number of occasions, which has infected many prisoners in Evin Prison.
    3. Please see confidential submission for further details on Tahbaz’s health risks. 

 

  1. FCDO
    1. Morad’s family has worked closely, on a weekly and sometimes daily basis, with the FCDO and has followed the British government's advice to work quietly, on the theory that this will improve the chances of a negotiated release.
    2. His family repeatedly expressed concerns to the British government that Iran would try to treat Tahbaz as a US citizen and deny his UK citizenship, in an effort to extract additional concessions from the US.
    3. In response to those concerns, the British government repeatedly promised Morad’s family that it would not accept Iran's denial of his UK citizenship and that the UK government would treat all detained UK citizens equally.
    4. Notwithstanding those promises, the British government ultimately negotiated the release of two other UK citizens, deciding to leave Morad and his wife, Vida, behind.
    5. The British government communicated in advance with the other UK families, but did not communicate with Morad’s family, and instead forced them to obtain news of the deal from the press and media.
    6. Please see confidential submission for further details.  

 

  1. Request
    1. In a first instance, Morad should be released immediately on an unconditional and unrestricted furlough, whilst arrangements are made for him and his wife, Vida, to be freed and returned to the UK/US.
    2. Please see confidential submission for further details.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, 20 May 2022