Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's 6-Year Ordeal in an Iranian Jail: A Cautionary Tale of State Hostage-Taking.
When Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Iran in 2016, it seemed like a routine case of espionage. However, within just 100 days, the contours of her ordeal became clear. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe held a press conference with 780,000 signatures supporting her release and urged then-PM David Cameron to take action. Yet, behind the scenes, civil servants from the Foreign Office were cautioning him against intervention.
As journalist Joseph Fiennes plays Richard Ratcliffe in the BBC drama Prisoner 951, he reveals how his real-life counterpart was caught up in a web of intrigue. "It was state hostage-taking," Fiennes says, echoing Ratcliffe's sentiments. "Innocent people and families are completely disrupted and tarred for life." The Iranian government accused Zaghari-Ratcliffe of spying, working for MI6, and even earning money illegally – charges that seemed fanciful to outsiders.
But those in the Iranian diaspora knew better. Narges Rashidi, who plays Zaghari-Ratcliffe, attests to their initial skepticism: "We were all very aware that there was no truth to the made-up reasons they said she was being held." The reality of the situation was far from clear-cut, even for those close to Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
The UK's preoccupation with Brexit left little room for attention on her case. It wasn't until Boris Johnson made egregious remarks about her teaching journalism in Iran that her plight received some media coverage. However, this brief respite only served to heighten the Iranian government's accusations against her.
Prisoner 951 brings a humanizing presence to Zaghari-Ratcliffe's story, with Rashidi delivering an uncanny portrayal of the dual national. Fiennes notes that watching everything from interviews to heart-stopping reunions helped him tap into her emotional state: "I'm thinking of Richard's family, hugely supportive to him, and Nazanin and her family...all these components, in the face of this horrific political situation, kept them alive." The show highlights Zaghari-Ratcliffe's resilience in the face of uncertainty and arbitrary state power.
The real reason behind Zaghari-Ratcliffe's arrest was far from secret. In 2018, Richard Ratcliffe began speaking out about the British government's refusal to refund a partial payment for cancelled Iranian tank deals. However, it wasn't until March 2022 that Liz Truss announced nearly £400 million in repayment, coinciding with Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release.
Fiennes' performance as Gareth Southgate and Richard Ratcliffe showcases two men defined by their tenacity and decency in the face of adversity. The actor reflects on his career trajectory: "That's probably why I've gravitated towards Gareth and Richard...I think this is all part of a cleansing act that could go on for ever." Narges Rashidi echoes a similar sentiment, drawing from her own experiences as a member of the Iranian diaspora: "Growing up in the diaspora always comes with guilt...it's a gift to humanize those struggles, and I feel obligated to do it."
The release of Prisoner 951 serves as a poignant reminder of state hostage-taking and its long-lasting effects on families. As Fiennes so poignantly puts it, "You wonder whether there are others who don't have her visibility...who don't have her sense of confidence."
When Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Iran in 2016, it seemed like a routine case of espionage. However, within just 100 days, the contours of her ordeal became clear. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe held a press conference with 780,000 signatures supporting her release and urged then-PM David Cameron to take action. Yet, behind the scenes, civil servants from the Foreign Office were cautioning him against intervention.
As journalist Joseph Fiennes plays Richard Ratcliffe in the BBC drama Prisoner 951, he reveals how his real-life counterpart was caught up in a web of intrigue. "It was state hostage-taking," Fiennes says, echoing Ratcliffe's sentiments. "Innocent people and families are completely disrupted and tarred for life." The Iranian government accused Zaghari-Ratcliffe of spying, working for MI6, and even earning money illegally – charges that seemed fanciful to outsiders.
But those in the Iranian diaspora knew better. Narges Rashidi, who plays Zaghari-Ratcliffe, attests to their initial skepticism: "We were all very aware that there was no truth to the made-up reasons they said she was being held." The reality of the situation was far from clear-cut, even for those close to Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
The UK's preoccupation with Brexit left little room for attention on her case. It wasn't until Boris Johnson made egregious remarks about her teaching journalism in Iran that her plight received some media coverage. However, this brief respite only served to heighten the Iranian government's accusations against her.
Prisoner 951 brings a humanizing presence to Zaghari-Ratcliffe's story, with Rashidi delivering an uncanny portrayal of the dual national. Fiennes notes that watching everything from interviews to heart-stopping reunions helped him tap into her emotional state: "I'm thinking of Richard's family, hugely supportive to him, and Nazanin and her family...all these components, in the face of this horrific political situation, kept them alive." The show highlights Zaghari-Ratcliffe's resilience in the face of uncertainty and arbitrary state power.
The real reason behind Zaghari-Ratcliffe's arrest was far from secret. In 2018, Richard Ratcliffe began speaking out about the British government's refusal to refund a partial payment for cancelled Iranian tank deals. However, it wasn't until March 2022 that Liz Truss announced nearly £400 million in repayment, coinciding with Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release.
Fiennes' performance as Gareth Southgate and Richard Ratcliffe showcases two men defined by their tenacity and decency in the face of adversity. The actor reflects on his career trajectory: "That's probably why I've gravitated towards Gareth and Richard...I think this is all part of a cleansing act that could go on for ever." Narges Rashidi echoes a similar sentiment, drawing from her own experiences as a member of the Iranian diaspora: "Growing up in the diaspora always comes with guilt...it's a gift to humanize those struggles, and I feel obligated to do it."
The release of Prisoner 951 serves as a poignant reminder of state hostage-taking and its long-lasting effects on families. As Fiennes so poignantly puts it, "You wonder whether there are others who don't have her visibility...who don't have her sense of confidence."
. The fact that she was wrongly accused and held captive for 6 long years is just unimaginable 
. I'm so glad the film Prisoner 951 is shedding light on this, it's really humanizing her experience and highlighting the resilience of her and her family 
. It's also a reminder that innocent people can be caught up in complex webs of politics and intrigue, and their lives are forever disrupted 
. The fact that she was finally released due to diplomatic efforts is a glimmer of hope, but it's also a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and justice 
.
. And Boris Johnson's comments? Wow, what a total embarrassment 
.
. I mean, it's clear they were playing with fire by accusing Nazanin of all those things 
. We gotta recognize that state hostage-taking is a REAL issue here, and we should be supporting people like Nazanin who are fighting against it 
. But hearing from Narges Rashidi & Joseph Fiennes about the real-life Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was really powerful 
.
. And now we see the consequences, like his wife being held captive for so long 
. It's like, can't we just have a straightforward conversation about these issues without putting people in harm's way? 
this whole thing is super messed up ... I mean Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's experience in Iran was already super rough but to think the UK gov even kinda enabled the Iranians by not taking action sooner and then only paying back some money after she got released is just low 
. Anyway, I feel bad for Richard Ratcliffe and his family who had to go through all this trauma 
.
. It's so important to humanize those struggling with state oppression and bring attention to their stories 
.
.
. We need more stories like hers to raise awareness about state hostage-taking and its devastating effects on families 
.