Recommendation 56

In its written evidence, the FCDO made clear that the strategies employed to secure the release of detained nationals vary by case.127 The intricacies of the negotiations and representations conducted by the FCDO in the pursuit of justice for detainees are rightly withheld from public consumption, but the FCDO noted that it makes requests for consular access to detained nationals where it is not automatically provided, such as with dual nationals.128 Another tactic has been to accord the detainee diplomatic protection, 122 Q22 [Charlie Loudon] 123 Q22 [Charlie Loudon] 124 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Asia, 19 November 2020 125 Review of Complex Consular Cases, House of Commons Library 126 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Asia, 19 November 2020 127 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UKI0031), para 18 128 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UKI0031), para 18 22 No prosperity without justice: the UK’s relationship with Iran although this has been dismissed by Iran when used for dual nationals.129130 Tulip Siddiq MP noted that despite the FCDO’s efforts to negotiate the release of Nazanin Zaghari- Ratcliffe, no real progress was made until covid-19 enabled her to be released on furlough.131 The limited range of options available was highlighted in October 2019 by Dr Andrew Murrison, the then Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, who stated: […] it is a sad fact that the tools in our toolbox are limited. What we can do is continue to make it clear to our interlocutors that this is not acceptable, right or proper, and that if Iran wants to restore its reputation, the early release of Nazanin and other dual nationals will go a very long way.132