As Nazanin ends 15-day hunger strike over imprisonment, Johnson tries to shift the blame

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Boris Johnson really is a blight on the United Kingdom and an embarrassment internationally.

The Tory leadership candidate – who may become prime minister on July 22 – has tried to wriggle out from his responsibility for worsening the plight of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been imprisoned in Iran on a false charge of spying since 2016.

He actually had the nerve to say that those criticising him are trying to excuse the Iranian authorities who wrongly locked her up!

For clarity (and this is according to Sky News): “As foreign secretary, he incorrectly stated that she was “teaching people journalism” in Iran despite relatives insisting she was visiting family. Mr Johnson’s comments were seized on by the Tehran regime and used against the charity worker, who remains in prison.”

Iranian officials cited his words as evidence that she had engaged in “propaganda against the regime”.

Mr Johnson told Sky News: “I feel sorry for her, for her daughter, for her husband Richard and I’ve said this many, many times. I feel a deep sense of anguish for what she has been going through.

“When it comes to responsibility for what she is suffering I think that is incredibly important that we in the UK do not unwittingly give aid and succour to the people who are really responsible – which is not the Foreign Office, not the former foreign secretary, and no one in London is responsible for incarcerating Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

“The people who are responsible are the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and anything you do to exculpate them is, I think, a great shame.”

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband Richard have both just ended a simultaneous 15-day hunger strike in protest against her imprisonment. Mr Ratcliffe hit back at the Tory leadership candidate, according to The Observer:

“Of course it’s not all [Johnson’s] fault,” said Mr Ratcliffe. “Clearly we are camped here [outside the Iranian embassy] because the Iranian authorities are imprisoning Nazanin, but he should take responsibility for his mistakes because they have consequences.

“Not just the gaffe – the failure to apologise afterwards clearly made things worse.

“I think it’s bad for a candidate not to take responsibility for their mistakes because the most important thing for a prime minister is to take responsibility for their country.”

With the election in which he hopes to become Tory leader yet to take place, one hopes the Conservative Party’s membership pays attention to this stain on the character of this candidate.

One fears they may ignore it. If so, will it be another clear indication that Tories are racists?

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mike-sivier-libel-fight/


Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.


The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

latest video

news via inbox

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

3 Comments

  1. loonytoonz June 30, 2019 at 4:44 pm - Reply

    Yes that interview was cringeworthy to say the least. A definite case of “the lady doth protest too much”!
    I am truly sickened and rather scared at the prospect of the clown moving into number 10. Although the alternative on offer doesn’t make me feel any better…. I am always reminded of KA in the original Jungle Book film, hanging down from the tree, hypnotising Mowgli with his wide staring spiralling eyes…… Ewwww

  2. Carol Fraser July 1, 2019 at 7:48 am - Reply

    I am astounded this lying oaf is getting support. Not surprising he is not taking responsibility for Nazanin, he thinks he can say exactly what enters his pea brain and consequences will just be blustered away

  3. nmac064 July 1, 2019 at 9:16 am - Reply

    Johnson will not take any responsibility for his many failures and wasteful spending sprees, but he is always quick to take the praise for other peoples successes. As for Hunt he is just as thoroughly dishonest, but much more crafty and sly. A pair of nasty dishonest, posh-talking reprobates.

Leave A Comment