The breaking news about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe nearly broke the newsreader who reported it
After almost six years of being unfairly held in detention in Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is free and has returned home to her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, and seven-year-old daughter, Gabriella.
The look between a mother and her daughter reunited. A lovely moment caught as Nazanin landed home in the early hours of the morning.
Full story on @skynews Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe & Annosheh Ashoori back in the UK & reunited with their families https://t.co/VuKRRqiPJ4 pic.twitter.com/uZ73viM3P7
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) March 17, 2022
Also released, after five years, was British-Iranian businessman Anoosheh Ashoori.
Nazanin’s MP Tulip Siddiq, who has fought and lobbied for her constituent’s release, posted updates.
Nazanin is at the airport in Tehran and on her way home.
I came into politics to make a difference, and right now I’m feeling like I have.
More details to follow. #FreeNazanin
— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) March 16, 2022
It's been 6 long years – and I can't believe I can FINALLY share this photo.
Nazanin is now in the air flying away from 6 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 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BzEEBP840C
— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) March 16, 2022
Nazanin’s plane took off from Oman just over half an hour ago and she’s due to arrive in the UK this evening.
Here she is on the plane – the final step in what has been a six year long ordeal.#NazaninIsFree pic.twitter.com/YN2AHA6jVR
— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) March 16, 2022
Ms Siddiq’s efforts stood out all the more due to the failure, by a succession of politicians, to secure the British-Iranian’s release, including a catastrophic mis-speak by the then Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, in 2017.
Boris has clearly forgotten he made the false claim that Nazanin was in Iran training journalists which made matters worse for her.
If he'd kept his blundering gob shut she may have been released from jail sooner https://t.co/UQnR4XIG9p— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) March 16, 2022
Nazanin deserves peace, support and privacy and I hope she receives it. Equally, if she chooses to step off the plane and deliver a massive expletive-laden rant about the appalling incompetence of Boris Johnson, it should be screened on TVs, phones and in IMAX cinemas on a loop.
— Count Binface (@CountBinface) March 16, 2022
BREAKING: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been released. It is understood she wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to be the first to greet her when she gets off the plane so she can punch him in the face x
— Laura Kuenssberg Translator (@BBCLauraKT) March 16, 2022
The release of both detainees comes as the UK finally makes arrangements to pay the £400 million refund for tanks ordered by the Shah of Iran prior to his deposition in 1979.
If the government is now describing the 400 million quid owed to Tehran as a legitimate debt why could they not have done so five years ago and spared #NazaninZaghariRatcliffe all that time in jail?
— Matt Frei (@mattfrei) March 16, 2022
Really pleased we managed to settle our dispute with Iran, the 4th largest oil producer in the world, just as we become desperate to find a new oil supplier.
Oh, and it's quite nice to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as well, I suppose.— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) March 16, 2022
Joanna Gosling broke the news on BBC – and it almost broke her.
powerful moment as the BBC first reports that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is on her way home after 6 years. a lot of people have been waiting a long time to be able to say that pic.twitter.com/AXZJrOEl1J
— Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) March 16, 2022
While the professional demeanour may have momentarily failed, people found the emotional moment both endearing and very, very relatable.
Bless you @BBCJoannaG … so many journalists have been doggedly following this story, doing what they can to keep her plight out there. This emotion is so human. https://t.co/GxPCWXq98I
— Shaparak Khorsandi 🌻💙💛 (@ShappiKhorsandi) March 16, 2022
This is very moving. Beautifully handled. #NazaninZaghariRatcliffe pic.twitter.com/COcgmDkcBp
— Brendan May 🇺🇦 (@bmay) March 16, 2022
This is so lovely. Immense news. And the newsreader catching the emotion perfectly 💕 https://t.co/BIWLRE2RRB
— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) March 16, 2022
Lovely, @BBCJoannaG 👏🏻 https://t.co/CxCBjel1JR
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 16, 2022
‘Professionalism' is a moveable feast, really. This is, quietly, very impactful. https://t.co/su1vEAIFCt
— Daniel Maier (@danielmaier) March 16, 2022
Couldn’t love the newsreader reaction more. You often see it with interviewees but rarely with the professionals.
So refreshing to see a heartfelt human reaction.
Right, BRB, something in my eye…— Silver Donkey 💙 💛 (@StuntRider) March 16, 2022
Having covered Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's story on and off for years now and interviewed her husband several times and met some of her lovely friends, this is exactly how I feel right now 😭 https://t.co/fVNCB7SiSz
— Nicola Slawson (@Nicola_Slawson) March 16, 2022
Humanity #NazaninFree https://t.co/lY02POv47b
— Shona Murray (@ShonaMurray_) March 16, 2022
Simon Hunter said what many of us were thinking.
This is why I could never be a newsreader, it would just be a puffy-faced, red, blotchy man sobbing into his script for half an hour https://t.co/zWsECFkgkU
— Simon Hunter (@simoninmadrid) March 16, 2022
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Source Matthew Champion Image Screengrab, Screengrab