A British entrepreneur, Anoosheh Ashoori, who was imprisoned in Tehran simultaneously with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and freed on the same day, participated in the London marathon to raise funds for rescuing dogs in Iran. Ashoori, 72, expressed dismay at the mistreatment of dogs by the Iranian regime and dedicated part of his fundraising to saving these animals. Completing the marathon in 5 hours and 57 minutes, he managed to collect £3,400 to aid in the rescue of dogs from the conflict-ridden nation.
According to Ashoori, dogs in Iran are subjected to poisoning and shooting by authorities, with private shelters stepping in to save and care for them, sometimes facilitating their adoption outside the country. He emphasized the need to protect the identities of these shelters to prevent potential interference from authorities seeking to extort money or shut them down. Recalling his time in captivity lasting 1677 days, Ashoori recounted hearing gunshots at night as municipal workers targeted dogs, leaving some in agonizing pain, a situation he felt powerless to alleviate.
Maintaining a close friendship with Zaghari-Ratcliffe following their shared ordeal, Ashoori highlighted their joint advocacy for reform in Iran. His decision to prioritize the marathon over a scheduled shoulder operation exemplified his commitment to raising awareness and support for the plight of both humans and animals suffering under the Iranian regime. Stressing the importance of optimism and activism in effecting change, Ashoori urged citizens to leverage their voices by engaging with policymakers to pressure the government to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
Released on the same day as Zaghari-Ratcliffe in March 2022, Ashoori, a British-Iranian businessman, had been detained in Evin jail since his arrest by Iranian authorities in August 2017 during a visit to his mother in Iran. Sentenced to 12 years in prison in August 2019 on charges of espionage and financial impropriety, he has continued his fundraising efforts to support his cause. Interested individuals can contribute to his fundraising campaign at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anoosheh-ashoori-1.
