Teddington MP pays visit to Richard Ratcliffe as he continues Foreign Office hunger strike
By Ellie Brown - Local Democracy Reporter
12th Nov 2021 | Local News
Teddington's MP Munira Wilson has praised hunger striker Richard Ratcliffe for his determination and bravery after visiting him outside the Foreign Office this week.
Ratcliffe has been campaigning to free his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from prison in Iran for five years.
His protest comes as the mother-of-one faces another year locked away, after an appeal against her second prison sentence was rejected.
The Teddington MP and mother-of-two told Nub News that she visited Ratcliffe to show the "strength and depth" of support for his campaign across UK parties and civil society.
During the visit Ratcliffe told her about the impact of his protest on his 7-year-old daughter Gabriella, who "just wants daddy to come home."
Wilson visited the campaigner during his 17th day of hunger strike and said pressure was "ratcheting up on the Government" ahead of talks between the UK and Iranian officials this week.
Mr Ratcliffe was hopeful of progress in the talks and his campaign has received the backing of celebrities including Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkelman and Only Connect presenter Victoria Coren-Mitchell, as well as the attention of the national press.
Wilson told Nub News: "Richard's determination and bravery was inspirational.
"I asked after his daughter for whom he said the novelty's worn off and she just wants Daddy home to take her to school.
"I know it's incredibly important to him to show the strength and depth of support for the campaign to free Nazanin.
"With pressure ratcheting up on the Government again, he's hopeful of progress between British and Iranian officials later this week."
Today, Ratcliffe reaches the 20th day of his hunger strike but further progress has not been made and he was left "deflated" after an unfruitful meeting with Middle East minister James Cleverly yesterday.
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