Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

oh dear (no further explanation needed)

None will be given?

Whoosh!! to grapefruitpip Fri 20-Sep-19 12:25:02
?

Sorry, that has passed me by?

Whoosh whoosh

Whatever the reasons for the Brexit Ltd members choosing to abstain, the fact is that they are paid to represent their constituents and the British People's interests, at the risk of offending a few supporters ( well, actually, I don't care if I offend you), very few of the Brexit people will have any idea of the intricacies of Foreign Office and diplomatic procedures, and to defend them by saying they didn't want to make things worse in a very delicate situation is a bit pathetic. What is more of a concern is the relationship between USA, specifically Trump, and the Brexit people, especially Farage, and part of me thinks that maybe he was considering this when he instructed his minions to abstain, but I seriously doubt it. Either way, this British citizen has not had support and it is shameful.

It is very interesting to observe those that are the first on this site to call out perceived discrimination and condemning the same. These are the same who Perfectly demonstrate their own discriminatory and biased attitudes towards anyone who may challenge their world view with fact.
The thing is, if you don't want to acknowledge fact that is okay. I understand your need to protect your sweet small world view with these protectionist mechanisms, but this cannot turn a fact from right to wrong just because you don't like it.
Those that use snide and personal asides only highlight their own discriminatory prejudices and display these biases based on nothing more than a few sentences on a debate site with no other evidence to support their prejudice.

Very well put Joelsnan ??

GillT57
It has been reiterated more than once that Iran does not recognise dual nationality, so it doesn't matter how many times people say she is Brit. Iran does not recognise this. Whilst-ever she is in Iran she is classed as Iranian.
We might not like this but this is the truth.

I will echo Urmstongran, very well put Joelsnan, I entirely agree with everything you have said. I believe the Brexit MEPs were correct to abstain, it most definitely could make the situation worse. Nazaran needs quiet diplomacy, and that will be going on behind the scenes all the time. Hopefully in time, it will work, but I’m not holding my breath because as previously stated, she is seen in Iran as Iranian, not British.

Sorry, Nazanin

I do know that Joelsnan, I do understand about the difficulties about the dual nationality question, but here she is recognised as a British Citizen. What I don't understand is any of your post of 13:45:44. Was it aimed at me? If so, you will have to be a bit more precise, I am obviously a bear of very little brain.

GillT57
The 13:45:44 posting was not aimed at anyone specifically...I would have named them, just a cabal of virtue signallers who need to take a look at attitudes they may (potentially inadvertently) display.

Well, quiet diplomacy doesn't seem to be helping this poor woman, does it, although it's preferable to the non quiet diplomacy practiced by Johnson whilst doing his useless stint as foreign secretary. Strange really how it was pretty obvious which people on gransnet would leap to the defence of the brexit MEP's.

Labiak
Some are so Brexit obsessed that they cannot see a rational decision when they see it.

After reading about the rise of the far right in the U.K., and knowing that Farage and others in the BP associate with those of the far right, I am very loathe to attribute rational thought to anything they do.

It isn't just Nazanin the EU were trying to help but human rights activists; can't have that, can we....

Oh ok Joelsnan. I am still not happy with the Brexit people and think they are there to represent people, not just make fools of themselves by turning their backs on Ode to Joy to get Britain out of Europe, surely they should be doing other things as well? Silly me, fancy thinking Ms Widdecombe would have any sensitivity.

Labiak
Maybe they were aware that if they had voted with the motion this would jeopardise any hope of Nazarins or-any other activists release.
Many place western sensibilities into these situations when they do not fit.
One thing that part of the world does mot like is perceived interference or humiliation by the west.

I agreeJoelsnan that this is a very delicate situation with a volatile administration, and I assume that diplomats have been quietly and delicately working behind the scenes doing their best to get this poor lady, and others out of prison, and all done without the Iranian administration losing face. What cannot be denied though, even by the most fervent fan, is that Johnson made it far worse when he was Foreign Secretary. I do wonder though, by abstaining, are Brexit MEPs inferring that they know better than other MEPs, are they virtue signalling?

More like attention seeking (IMO).....

No, I don’t think the Brexit MEPs are virtue signalling, but I do think the MEPs from other countries are virtue signalling. This situation has got absolutely nothing to do with the EU and everything to do with Britain and Iran. Iran will not like seeing other countries ‘ganging up’ against them and their policies and will most likely harden their attitude. It is not helpful to Nazarin and her family.

Why would the Brexit Party MEPs want to virtue signal anyway? By abstaining how is that virtue signalling? What is the virtuous message they want to convey? Could someone please explain?

agreed, not virtue signalling, much much worse

The issue may be that what BJ blurted was correct, but not being pushed because it was known to be contra to Iran’s politics. If Nazarin was working for the Thomson-Reuters foundation (as seems to be the case), this is apparently a philanthropic media oriented org, pushing a western agenda which to many in the west may be seen as enabling independent news delivery. However places such as Iran would probably view this as a threat to their authority. their ideology and may not conform to Irans cultural sensibilities.
www.trust.org/about-us/HISTORY

You may be right Joelsnan, but does that make her a spy as Iran is claiming? To my mind that isn’t the case, but who knows how the Iranians view these things! The only Iranians I’ve ever met have been (lovely people in every case) pretty well signed up to the western lifestyle. Nobody wore anything other than western clothing, and no headscarves. But that doesn’t tell us how Iranian Government thinks/works.
Jura, what is it that is much worse please? You need to explain to me please.