Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Yes Jalima, I must say I was a bit shocked when this lovely young woman told me this. She is a friend of my son’s, they were at university together, on the same course. There were only eight of them on this particular course, so they all got very friendly together and knew each other well. This particular young woman has visited my home several times, she’s a lovely person. Anyway, she was recently having lunch with my son and his family, at his house, and we were invited too. That was when she told me. I think we were discussing the NZR case then, and our son’s friend was recently married, to an Iranian who has settled here. Of course her father is Iranian, with British nationality, and her mother is British only. And that was what she told me, she can’t travel to Iran, to see her father’s side of the family, even though she was born here, to an English mother, unless she travels on an Iranian passport. And of course, that will apply to any children she may have, more especially since her husband is Iranian (purely by chance, though I guess when they met, a shared heritage would have interested them.)

Anyway, with that little piece of information, it’s easy to see why the Iranians believe NZR to be purely Iranian, and it appears that British views hold no sway with regard to their own citizens.

What you have said about Iranian citizens with dual nationality travelling to Iran is interesting maddyone

can become

There is no such legal concept in nationality/citizenship/immigration law as a subject of her majesty.
I know that
You know that maryeliza

but the concept enrages some posters who can rather cross about it on threads.

And there is no reasonable logical way NZR’s husband could be a British subject
Thank you for clarifying that point, although it is not impossible.

And I will defend my right to criticise what someone has said especially when it’s uninformed, factually incorrect, racist, sexist and so on

‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’

Urmstongran ?

I think the Foreign Office are missing a trick here maryeliza54 as who knew you were better informed on this (and perhaps many more) issues than Boris? You do think Jeremy Hunt is making a better fist of it though ... ?

No one is saying that someone can’t express an opinion but if that opinion is uninformed then it can be roundly criticised. What is the matter with people that they can’t understand that ? Also BJ made his ill advised comments after fresh charges had been laid against her not further imprisonment. He is a self absorbed entitled serial liar who is lazy in office and does not bother with detail.

NZR has Iranian nationality, and so does her daughter, as do all Iranians and their children who live outside Iran. Whilst living outside of Iran they are still regarded by Iran as being Iranian. The fact that she has dual nationality cuts no ice with the Iranians, she is simply regarded as Iranian. My son’s friend told me this, she herself was born in Britain to a British mother and an Iranian father, but she reliably informed me that she cannot travel to Iran except on an Iranian passport. And so the same applies to NZR and her child. The Iranians simply don’t see them as anything other than Iranians, it’s completely irrelevant to them how they are seen in Britain.

It seems to me that there is more to this sad situation than meets the eye. Something doesn’t add up. Boris Johnson has nothing to do with it, because as a previous poster said, his remarks came after Iran announced further imprisonment for NZR. Boris Johnson May be a buffoon, but he’s an intelligent buffoon. He knew more about the case than we did or do. I don’t know how it will all pan out, but I feel sorry for the husband and his little daughter.

And yes, I agree with the poster who said everyone is entitled to an opinion. After all, we don’t live in Iran, we live in Britain and are allowed to speak freely. Even if others don’t agree with us, or feel we are uninformed, we can still speak. This right is not removed because someone else feels that what has been said is not accurate.

There is no such legal concept in nationality/citizenship/immigration law as a subject of her majesty. And there is no reasonable logical way NZR’s husband could be a British subject. The issue has only been confused by people not understanding the basics of the issue of nationality/citizenship.

It is possible if her husband was/is a British subject, but I presume he is not and that he is a citizen

Some posters are adamant that we are 'subjects' of Her Majesty so that has confused the issue.

I would rather be a citizen than a subject and it appears that I am as I was born in the UK. If I have understood this correctly "subject" status is inferior to "citizen" status, but both are entitled to consular access and assistance abroad. Nazarin is a British citizen.

So no British citizen born after 1981 is a British subject?

The crucial bit

“British citizens are not British subjects under the 1981 Act. The only circumstance where a person may be both a British subject and British citizen simultaneously is a case where a British subject connected with Ireland (s. 31 of the 1981 Act) acquires British citizenship by naturalisation or registration. In this case only, British subject status is not lost upon acquiring British citizenship. The status of British subject cannot now be transmitted by descent, and will become extinct with the death of all existing British subjects.”

It’s an incredibly important difference
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_subject

She has British nationality, a British passport, the right to live in the UK and to be represented by British diplomats. She is one of HM the Queen's subjects. As a UK citizen, she is also a Commonwealth citizen. What is the difference?

Yes - it’s all tied up with the Commonwealth and part of our arcane immigration legislation over the years. I would say google it but it’s not a fun read ( unless you are really really bored). As Iran is not and never was in the Commomwealth, NZR could never have been a British subject.

Is there a legal difference between British subject, British national and British citizen?

She couldn’t be a British Subject - totally impossible. She has dual Iranian / British nationality

Is she a British citizen or a British subject?
That would mean a difference in what help the FO can offer.

EllanV including 'to defend Australia in time of war'!
Although I think that may have been removed fairly recently.

Do those applying for British citizenship have to swear on oath as they do in Australia when applying to become an Aussie ?

A British citizen with dual nationality status enjoys the same rights and privileges as all citizens of UK This includes the right to reside in UK permanently, including the right to leave and re-enter the country at any time.

www.inbrief.co.uk/immigration-law/dual-nationality/

I thought she was a British/Iranian ? Or is that by marriage or what ? Dual ?

varian. NZR is not a British Citizen in Iran, but a Iranian born National.
And as such she is not entitled to diplomatic assistance from the British Embassy, or any other Embassy she may have dual nationality with, exactly the same as any other dual national around the world, whether they be British/French, German/ British or Iranian/British.

Nails and coffins come to mind