The meeting has resumed.
We now have our second panel of witnesses for Iran Accountability Week.
I would like to welcome Nikahang Kowsar, an Iranian journalist, cartoonist and geologist now living in Canada, following his arrest for his work in Iran. He is the co-founder of the Cartoonists Rights Network of Canada.
Also before us today is Richard Ratcliffe, an individual I had the honour of meeting at the recent Geneva conference on human rights. He is the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British Iranian dual national who has been detained in Iran since April 2016 and sentenced to five years in prison on espionage charges. Their daughter, Gabriella, has been unable to leave Iran since then as well, and Richard has not seen her in a number of years.
Gentlemen, thank you for appearing before us today as we continue our Iran Accountability Week.
Mr. Kowsar, you may begin with your statement, after which we will move to Mr. Ratcliffe. Then we will open up the floor to members who I'm sure are going to have questions for you both.
Please begin, Mr. Kowsar.