British-Iranian academic, Kameel Ahmady, was convicted two months ago of collaborating with a hostile government. He has denied the charge. The BBC reports that facing nine years in jail in Iran, Ahmady escaped on foot over mountains to start a new life in the United Kingdom.

According to the BBC, the academic’s research in Iran had focused on child marriage and female genital mutilation, which attracted the attention of the authorities. He campaigned against the youngest age a girl could marry, being 13, and tried to raise that number. Then, in August 2019, a man claiming to be a postman, came to Ahmadys door. When he opened the door,  16 Revolutionary Guards stormed in. Ahmady was arrested.

Ahmady spent three months at Evin prison, where, he says, he faced psychological torture. He added he was targeted because Iran wanted to retaliate after Britain seized an Iranian oil  tanker suspected of breaking EU sanctions, off Gibraltar. Ahmady added, “Being a dual national, you are always a potential case.”

Following 3 months of imprisonment, Ahmady was released ahead of his trial but was monitored closely. Meanwhile, in December 2020, Ahmady was convicted of collaborating with a hostile government, after prosecutors claimed that a charity he had once done some  work for had received some funding from the United States. Amongst other charges levelled against him, was the promotion of homosexuality.

Sentenced to more than nine years in jail and fined $683 000 he decided to flee Iran, while out on bail. He fled in secret, informing only his immediate family.

According to the BBC, Mr Ahmady, who is unemployed, now faces an uncertain  future in Britain. It remains to be seen how Tehran will respond to Ahmady’s escape, and what impact it will have on other British-Iranian dual nationals.

Umm Muhammed Umar