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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has revealed how sewing became a vital source of hope and inspiration during her lengthy imprisonment in Iran. While detained for nearly six years, the British-Iranian charity worker found solace in crafting, which provided not only a creative outlet for herself but also a way to uplift fellow inmates. Speaking at the Hay Festival, she described how obtaining permission to receive fabrics was a crucial lifeline amid the harsh conditions of the political prison.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 and held by Iranian authorities as a diplomatic bargaining chip. During her incarceration, she made clothes for her daughter Gabriella and designed neckerchiefs for other women in the prison. She confessed to the audience that she had not been confident with sewing before her detention, partly because her mother had never allowed her to use the family sewing machine. However, inside the prison, she discovered the courage to use fabrics she had previously considered too precious, such as those bought from Liberty London, a renowned department store. Encouraged by her mother-in-law and aided by the crafting teacher in the prison who helped her develop dress patterns, Zaghari-Ratcliffe used sewing as both an emotional and rehabilitative tool.
Securing the fabrics inside the prison was a challenge, as textiles were generally prohibited. Despite restrictions allowing only a limited number of garments, she managed to obtain special written permission to bring in her Liberty fabrics, thanks to the efforts of her husband, Richard Ratcliffe. She shared how she distributed the fabric among her fellow prisoners, giving them a “piece of liberty” in a place where freedom was severely curtailed. In an environment where possessions were basic, inmates found ways to maintain their identity and creativity, often turning discarded items into adornments. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was also responsible for managing the only sewing machine available, an old industrial model, which became integral to her crafting efforts.
Her sewing extended beyond prison walls, centered on the connection with her young daughter, who was just 22 months old when she was detained. Nazanin often dreamed of making matching dresses for Gabriella and herself, though cultural restrictions in Iran prevented them from wearing the dresses together. Crafting provided the imprisoned women a mental escape, giving them a “sense of travel” and a way to experience freedom in their minds despite their physical confinement. Zaghari-Ratcliffe also did crafts with Gabriella during weekly visits until the child returned to the UK for school in 2019.
Reflecting on difficult times outside prison as well, she described turning to sewing as a calming focus during moments of crisis, finding it a “safe space” amid turmoil. Contact with family was often limited and fraught with challenges, with phone calls reminiscent of her prison experience due to their brevity and anonymity. After her release, Liberty London reached out to Nazanin, honoring her and her daughter by naming fabric lines after them. These fabrics carry personal significance, representing both the confinement and glimpses of the outside world she experienced during her imprisonment. Liberty has since donated these materials to prisoners, continuing the cycle of crafting as a source of hope and connection.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe also created a quilt from fabrics that symbolized her prison experience—an object that simultaneously connects her to a past she wishes to leave behind and one that shaped her profoundly. She reflected on the meaning of liberty in everyday pleasures, such as walking in the sun, drinking coffee, or simply enjoying a shower. For her, freedom lies in the simple joys of life, embodying the ability to experience and cherish these moments fully
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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