Free Anoosheh campaign

Anoosheh Ashoori, a retired British national, was arbitrarily detained in Iran in 2017 and held for four and a half years. He was finally released in March 2022, after the UK government settled a long-overdue debt related to an unfulfilled arms deal dating back to the 1970s.

During Anoosheh’s time in prison, Amnesty supporters campaigned for his release – writing to their MPs and delivering petitions to Parliament calling on the prime minister to take responsibility for his release. This effective mobilisation also raised awareness of his case in the media.

MPs listened to people’s calls, and Anoosheh was mentioned more and more in Parliament. For example, in the Commons debate led by Janet Daby, Anoosheh’s MP, shown above.