British woman jailed in Iran '˜dreams of watching daughter play'

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Picture: GettyNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Picture: Getty
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Picture: Getty
A British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran for allegedly plotting to topple the government has told how she dreams of watching her husband and their two-year-old daughter playing.

Ahead of the first anniv­ersary of her detention, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe described her wish to see the pair dancing to Michael Jackson in “the middle of our sitting-room”.

The 38-year-old was arrested at Tehran Airport on 3 April while visiting family in Iran with daughter Gabriella.

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She was imprisoned for five years in September and lost an appeal against her sentence in January but maintains her innocence. Her husband Richard said it had been a “long year of separation, a year of our lives interrupted”.

The Free Nazanin Campaign said Zaghari-Ratcliffe had still not been shown her charge sheet following the appeal or what she has been convicted of.

Gabriella is being looked after by family in Iran.

Today – the 365th day since the arrest – family and friends will gather at Fortune Green, close to Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s home in Hampstead, London.

Supporters will tie yellow ribbons to a tree in the park along with quotes from inmates at Evin prison in Iran, where Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held, describing what they would do with one day of freedom.

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Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s wish reads: “My fondest dream has always been to arrive at our home, you ask me if I want to have a cup of tea, then make me one.

“I just sit back and watch you two play. This is the image I had most when in solitary confinement. How I wish I could watch you both dance in the middle of our sitting room to the Michael Jackson music – like when Gabriella was only tiny.”

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