Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe avoided a return to jail on Monday after her trial in Iran was delayed.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 41, had been warned she faced an end to more than seven months on temporary release and a return to the Iranian jail in which she was held for four years.
But the British-Iranian’s court case was adjourned before she was given the opportunity to put forward her defence.
A date for the next hearing has yet to be set and she has been allowed to return to her parents’ home in Iran under house arrest.
Tulip Siddiq, a British MP who represents the charity worker’s constituency in London, tweeted on Monday she had spoken to Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband.
“Spoke to Nazanin’s husband Richard just now,” she said.
“She was taken to court, but trial was adjourned before she could put forward a defence. No date for next hearing, but also no prison and she is back home with her parents.”
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in April 2016 as she prepared to head home to the UK with her young daughter after visiting family in Iran.
She was convicted after a secret trial and Iranian media have claimed she was plotting against the state.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said she ran a “foreign-linked hostile network”. No charges have officially been made public.
But her family say she is among a group of foreign and dual citizens being held illegally by Iran as pawns in a wider diplomatic game.
Last week, Iranian authorities summoned Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe to court and warned her she must pack a bag in preparation to continue serving a five-year jail sentence, her family said.
On Monday, Ms Siddiq criticised the UK government for not attending the hearing.
“The UK Gov did NOT attend despite our repeated requests,” she tweeted.
“The mental torture continues. My constituent’s safety is my top priority – these mind games must be stopped.”
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released in March as part of Iran’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus in its jails but she has had to wear an electronic tag and remain at the home of her parents in Iran.
The summons followed a six-month delay in a UK court case over a £380 million ($491m) arms deal debt owed to Iran.
The family of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe believe her jail term is linked to the debt, which dates back to the 1970s.
The High Court hearing between the Iranian Ministry of Defence and the UK’s defence sales arm IMS over the arms debt had been due to be held on Tuesday, but last week it was rescheduled for April 2021.
Reacting to the delay, Mr Ratcliffe said: “This is a cruel game of cat-and-mouse waiting. And yesterday it got crueller.
“We do think that if she’s not home for Christmas, there’s every chance this could run for years.”
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Super Bowl LIII schedule
What Super Bowl LIII
Who is playing New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Where Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States
When Sunday (start time is 3.30am on Monday UAE time)
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
