(CNN) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian charity worker who was jailed in Iran almost three years ago on spying charges, has been given diplomatic protection by the UK government. "The Foreign Secretary has today decided that the UK will exercise diplomatic protection in the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as part of the Government's continuing efforts to secure her release," a statement from the UK Foreign Office read. The affording of diplomatic protection means that the British government has recognized that the jailed woman's treatment "fails to meet Iran's obligations under International law and elevates it to a formal State to State issue." The Foreign Office statement criticized the Iranian government, alleging that the legal proceedings brought against the jailed woman "failed to meet international standards and during her time in prison, Nazanin has periodically been denied access to the medical care recommended by doctors." Affording diplomatic protection is rare but allows a state to seek protection on behalf of one of its nationals, if it believes it has been wronged by another state.

Source: CNN March 08, 2019 01:41 UTC