Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe called for an end to the detention of other dual nationalities still held in Iran, saying without their release “the meaning of freedom will never be complete”.
Speaking in public for the first time at a press conference following her release from prison, British-Iranians paid tribute to her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, for campaigning for their plight.
But the 43-year-old, who returned to Britain on Thursday after the UK finally agreed to settle a £ 400m debt from the 1970s, has criticized the UK government for the length of time it took for her Secure publication.
Zaghari Ratcliffe also stressed the continued responsibility of British-US National and Wildlife Conservator Morad Tahbaz, who, according to his family, went on hunger strike after being taken back to prison after 48 hours.
She told reporters at Portcullis House in London: “I believe the meaning of freedom will never be complete, so that all of us who have been wrongfully detained in Iran are reunited with our families.
“To begin with, Morad, but also the other dual citizens, members of religious groups, or prisoners of conscience who … I mean, we realize that when I’ve been in prison for six years, there are so many other people, we do “I know their names who were imprisoned in Iran.
Zaghari Ratcliffe, who was detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at Imam Khomeini Airport on April 3, 2016 after visiting her parents with her daughter Gabriella, thanked the people who campaigned for her release, saying that they ” was powerless “in prison.
Referring to her husband thanking the government a few moments earlier, she said: “I do not really agree with him on that level.”
She said she had seen five foreign ministers over the course of six years, adding: “This is infinite according to British politics. I love you Richard, respect everything you believe, but I have been told many, many times: ‘ Oh, we’ll get you home ‘.
“That never happened.”
She said this led to her finding it difficult to put their trust in them, adding: “I mean, how many foreign secretaries does it take to get one home? Five?”
Zaghari-Ratcliffe told reporters: “What happened now should have happened six years ago.”
With Gabriella in the front row of the audience, Zaghari-Ratcliffe said the journey back home was “difficult” as she recounted the moment she was reunited with her family back in Britain.
“That moment was precious,” she said. I’ve been waiting for that moment for so long. And I was overwhelmed, especially to get to know Gabriella and Richard after such a long time. It was a very, very emotional moment.
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