Churches show support for hunger striker Richard Ratcliffe

Fleur Brennan, parishioner at Holy Apostles, Pimlico, and member of Westminster & Bayswater Amnesty International sat in solidarity with Richard on Sunday to press for justice for Nazanin.

Prayers were said in many churches across London this weekend for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, on hunger strike in prison in Iran and her husband Richard, who is on hunger strike outside the Iranian Embassy in London. Supporters have been coming to visit Richard each day, to show their solidarity, as his hunger strike goes into its second week.

Fr Joe Ryan, chair of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace Commission told ICN: "Its a very worrying situation. This young couple and their child have been apart now for more than three years, without any charge. Nazanin has been kept in solitary confinement for much of the time and not been allowed to receive medical help or see a lawyer. Boris Johnson's intervention when he was Foreign Secretary did not help. How sad that they have been forced to resort to such a desperate act.

"The UN has requested Nazanin's release from prison. This appeal has fallen on deaf ears so far. Millions of people have petitioned her release. Could they all be wrong? Or does public opinion matter a jot?

"I hope and pray that the Iranian government show some compassion and let Nazanin return to her family.

"For what it's worth, I would wish to add my little voice to the request of her release and invite others to do the same."

If you haven't already - please sign the petition here: www.change.org/p/free-nazanin-ratcliffe