Students from Westholme School are lobbying Boris Johnson for the release of two British-Iranian nationals held against their will in Iran.
Led by the school’s Amnesty Human Rights Group, students from Westholme’s INSPIRED Sixth Form are building a petition to help raise awareness of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori’s plight – both imprisoned in Iran for charges they strongly deny.
Earlier this month, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband staged a three-week hunger strike outside of the Foreign Office in London, campaigning for his wife’s release who has been in custody since 2016, accused of being a spy.
Dr Richard Robson, Principal at Westholme School said: “It is important that young people feel they have a voice, in addressing issues close to home and within international waters. Westholme’s Amnesty Human Rights Group is part of our co-curricular programme and our students are passionate about making a difference and campaigning for positive change.”
Members of Westholme’s Amnesty Human Rights Group have been following Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh’s story closely, concerned that the government is not doing enough to secure their release.
Dr Robson added: “Facilitated by the school’s Head of Ethics, Philosophy and Religion, students are delivering a number of education pieces for the whole school, encouraging pupils and their parents to learn more about the detainees’ stories and sign a petition in partnership with Amnesty International.”
Zara Hyatt, Youth MP for Blackburn with Darwen is also a pupil at Westholme School, she said: “As a Youth MP, I feel that action needs to be taken immediately to help these individuals and their families who are suffering. I urge the local community to take action to bring them home, just like Westholme students are doing.”
To learn more and sign the petition, visit https://www.amnesty.org.uk/nazanin-zaghari-ratcliffe-whats-happening