Husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe says family looking ahead to ‘new chapter’
Richard Ratcliffe said the journey back to normality will involve ‘baby steps’.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe said they are looking forward to a “new chapter” as a “normal family” following her release from detention in Iran.
Richard Ratcliffe, who had campaigned for his wife’s freedom since she was detained in 2016, paid tribute to her during a press conference on Monday after what he said was “a long struggle”.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe landed back in Britain on Thursday after the UK finally agreed to settle a £400 million debt dating back to the 1970s.
She was reunited with Richard and seven-year-old daughter Gabriella when she stepped off the plane at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained on April 3 2016 by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini Airport after a holiday visit with Gabriella to her parents.
Speaking of her experience, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe told reporters: “It will always haunt me. There is no other way around it. It will be with me.”
She said it is “very difficult” for her to talk about what she has been through.
Mr Ratcliffe thanked everyone for “making us whole again” and said it is “nice to be retiring” from his campaigning.
“It’s been a long struggle. I’m immensely, immensely pleased and proud of my wife, and proud to have her home, proud that we start a new chapter, and get to be a normal family again,” he said.
Mr Ratcliffe said it feels like he has spent six years “conspicuously waiting”, adding: “And here we are. So, thank you to everyone who has been part of bringing Nazanin home and making us whole again.”
He said the journey back to normality will involve “baby steps”, adding: “I am super proud of her strength and her survival and her grace.
“I’m so pleased she’s back home, that she came home to us. We’re still negotiating whether daddy’s allowed in the same bed as Gabriella and Nazanin.
“We’ll get there.”
Mr Ratcliffe said: “I think we’ll do this and then we will disappear off and heal a bit.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.