An Iranian employee of the British Council who was arrested in Tehran and sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges has returned to the UK after a court ordered her travel ban to be lifted.
Aras Amiri had been free for months but barred from leaving Iran until her lawyers successfully appealed to Iran’s Supreme Court.
Ms Amiri was arrested in 2018 and found guilty the following year of spying but supporters said she was only in the country to visit her family and was convicted on trumped up charges.
At least four British dual-nationals are still held in Iranian prisons or barred from leaving the country after being convicted on national security charges.
The release of Ms Amiri came as negotiations continued in Vienna between Tehran and world powers, including the UK, over its collapsed 2015 nuclear deal.
Owing to tensions with Western powers over Iran's nuclear programme, the Islamic Republic in 2019 banned cooperation with the British Council and warned that such activity would result in prosecution.
“We have always refuted the original charges made against Aras,” said the council, the UK’s overseas cultural organisation.
“We are very proud of her work in our London office as an arts programme officer supporting a greater understanding and appreciation of Iranian culture in the UK.”
In Tehran, her lawyer, Hojjat Kermani, confirmed her release and said that the court had ruled that her earlier espionage conviction was contrary to Islamic law. Mr Kermani said Ms Amiri left Tehran on Monday.
Britons who remain in Iran include Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been detained for more than five years in Tehran.
After completing her sentence last year, she was released from prison only for authorities to present new charges of “spreading propaganda against the regime”, which she denies.
Anoosheh Ashoori, another dual national who was arrested in 2017 and jailed for a decade, remains in detention.
Rights groups accuse Tehran of holding dual-nationals as bargaining chips for money or influence in negotiations with the West, something Tehran denies.
A UN panel has criticised what it describes as “an emerging pattern involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals” in Iran.
Ms Amiri’s release comes as world powers negotiate over Tehran’s collapsed nuclear deal in Vienna. The negotiations have dragged on for weeks with little sign of progress under recently-elected hardline President Ebrahim Raisi.
Iranian and Gulf Arab diplomats travelled this week for talks in China, another signatory to the nuclear deal.
European delegates have warned that time is running out to save the deal as Iran accelerates its nuclear programme, spinning uranium in advanced centrifuges up to 60 per cent purity — a short step from weapons-grade levels.
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match info
Southampton 0
Arsenal 2 (Nketiah 20', Willock 87')
Red card: Jack Stephens (Southampton)
Man of the match: Rob Holding (Arsenal)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
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MATCH INFO
France 3
Umtiti (8'), Griezmann (29' pen), Dembele (63')
Italy 1
Bonucci (36')
