Nazanin Zaghari-Ratclife

THERE is “no return” for the Islamic Republic of Iran following the explosive protests that have gripped the nation after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

That is the message from Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the accidentally famous woman who was released from six-year Tehran prison ordeal earlier this year.

Speaking at a FiLiA, organisers of the largest UK feminist conference, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe spoke about the series of demonstrations to follow Ms Amini’s death in custody. She had been arrested three days earlier for allegedly breaching the Islamic dress code for women.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: “Her death sparked an explosion. The movement was initially led by women protesting against forced hijab. But it is not about forced hijab any more, it’s about rights to do whatever you want to do. To be free.

“We are also talking about an economic crisis. What we are seeing with this generational shift, there is no return.

“This is a new generation – schoolchildren – they are the generation of social media, and TikTok. They understand society in a better way than we did.

“I was born two months before the previous revolution in Iran. Our parents were expecting more than what they got. My generation also, they lived in a society under the cover of religion. The internet helps them understand their rights. That is why there is no return from September 22.”

Nazanin was interviewed by Samira Ahmed on stage on Monday, who praised her for wanting to talk about the other women in prison rather than herself.

Saturday’s protest in Trafalgar Square

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: “I am not completely free until they are out. I have a responsibility to talk about them.”

She told the conference how she was not aware of how big the campaign was to get her released for several years, recalling how there was not even a phone line in prison.

“There was one phone line for 25 women, sometimes 40 women. All the time it was about how the baby was doing. I remember apologising to my husband [Richard] for a bad-tempered conversation, I was saying ‘get me out of this place!’ I didn’t know what he was doing. I was not kind to my husband, I have to say. My goodness, I later saw how the campaign here was enormous.”

Speaking about life since her release from prison seven months ago, she said: “Adjusting has been very slow… Baby steps, as Richard calls it. Six years is a long time. I have come to a world that I almost don’t know. It’s taking a lot longer than I thought.”

She said she had cherished spending time with her daughter Gabriella, now aged 10.

“I live in a lovely community.

“The solidarity in the community is amazing. I’ve enjoyed shopping. And just… being. Just be,” she said.

“Richard has married an Iranian woman who does everything at home. He lives like a king. He has been amazing, especially looking after our daughter.

“I would just say do not underestimate how wonderful it is to be free and to live in a free world. It is always good to remember that we are fighting for simple things: we are talking about what to wear, what to tweet, how to criticise.

“To be able to wake up in the morning and call up your friend to go shopping. Cherish and appreciate that freedom.”

I walked past the hundreds protesting in Trafalgar Square on Saturday and I couldn’t help agree. Perhaps one day she could make a good MP.