Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe reunited with family after six years in Iranian jail

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was reunited with her husband and young daughter following “six years of hell” in an Iranian jail tonight (March 16). Nazanin, 44, arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and met her husband Richard Ratcliffe and daughter Gabriella for the first time since she was detained.

The mother-of-one, whose husband Richard has long campaigned for her release, left Iran with fellow British-Iranian Anoosheh Ashoori, 67, on Wednesday after their release was secured. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori, who was detained in Evin prison for almost five years, were accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government and of spying respectively, which they have consistently and vigorously denied.

They both smiled and chatted as they walked from the aircraft into a reception building at the airport. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe waved to the cameras, while Mr Ashoori, who was carrying a magazine, gave a salute.

Mr Ashoori appeared to be taking photos with the pilots in the cockpit on the plane, as they waited to disembark. He could be seen posing with two men through the windows of the cockpit.

READ MORE: Daughter of Brit freed from Iran jail celebrates ‘years of suffering coming to an end’

After a private reunion for both families, Mr Ashoori’s daughter Elika posted a picture to Twitter of the reunited families smiling together.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, her husband Richard and their daughter Gabriella left RAF Brize Norton after an undoubtedly emotional reunion, which took place behind closed doors. They were seen talking and hugging through the windows of the airport reception building for at least an hour after Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe landed.

The seven-year-old girl was seen running excitedly around the room and being carried on her mother’s hip. The family are being put up in Government-supported accommodation for the night.

Earlier this week, Nazanin, from Hampstead, had her passport returned to her, which suggested she could be coming home and reunited with her family within days. Her lawyer Hojjat Kermani announced today (March 16) that Nazanin and British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori, who was also held by Iran, were on their way back to the UK.

Yesterday, Nanazin’s MP, Tulip Siddiq, shared an image of her on Twitter and said: “It’s been six long years – and I can’t believe I can FINALLY share this photo. Nazanin is now in the air flying away from six years of hell in Iran. My heart goes out to Gabriella and Richard as her long journey back home to them gets closer by the minute. #NazaninIsFree.”