Sources close to the family have confirmed that British nationals Morad Tahbaz and his wife, who have been held in Iran since 2019, have had their appeal rejected by Tehran's judiciary. The couple, both environmental activists, were sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges that the UK government has repeatedly dismissed as baseless. The family, speaking through a solicitor, issued a statement this afternoon demanding immediate intervention from the Foreign Office.
'This is a mockery of justice. They have been denied due process, denied access to proper legal representation, and now denied their only hope of release,' the statement read. Documents obtained by this newsroom show that the appeal was dismissed without a formal hearing, a move that legal experts describe as a flagrant violation of Iran's own judicial procedures.
The couple's health has deteriorated significantly, with Morad, a 67-year-old with a history of medical conditions, requiring urgent care that prison authorities have failed to provide. The Foreign Office has confirmed that diplomatic channels remain active but have so far yielded no results. One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'The regime is using them as bargaining chips.
They don't care about justice. They care about leverage.' The UK government has imposed sanctions on Iranian judges involved in politically motivated cases, but the family argues that stronger action is needed.
The case has reignited debate over the UK's consular support for dual nationals, with critics pointing to a pattern of inaction. As the family holds a vigil outside the Iranian embassy in London, the question remains: how many more lives will be sacrificed to geopolitical games?
