Iran frees Brit mum..for now
Iran jail Brit gets 3-day release to see her girl
BEAMING with delight, jailed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugs daughter Gabriella after being temporarily freed.
The 39-year-old was allowed out of her Iranian prison hellhole for three days yesterday, amid hopes that could be extended.
Fellow inmates on the same release, known as a furlough, remain free more than a month later, her campaign group said.
Nazanin, who has been in jail since 2016 on spying charges, said after being reunited with her four-year-old girl: “It was awesome for Gabriella to have mummy home finally.
“We can play with her dolls house and she can show me her toys. The thought of brushing her hair and giving her a bath, of being able to take her to the park and feed her, and sleep next to her, it just kills me. It is still so hard to believe.”
Nazanin, who has continued to protest her innocence, went to her dad’s home in Damavand.
She was given just 10 minutes notice yesterday that she was being allowed out.
Nazanin, of Hampstead, North London, added: “I was so emotional to see my gran today. I cried so much.
“My dad’s home is not my home, but it is so much better than prison. It felt like this could be the beginning of the end.”
Nazanin’s husband Richard Ratcliffe, who is barred from travelling to Iran, said her release was a “happy surprise”.
Until now he had only been able to speak to his wife by phone but yesterday he could talk to her on Facetime.
LIMBO
Richard added: “It was so nice to see her look so happy, she was radiating happiness. She looked like the old Nazanin. She has dreamed of this for so long.
“Furlough is not full freedom. We want her home, not just on holiday from prison, but it is still such a good step.
“I have promised Nazanin I will keep campaigning until she is home.”
Nazanin, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, denies spying and insisted she was visiting her family in Iran.
It was awesome for her to finally have mummy home NAZANIN ON SEEING GABRIELLA AGAIN