Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Detainee watched Andy Murray win Wimbledon from Iranian prison cell

Former Iranian detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has told of her “joyful” experience watching Andy Murray play tennis at Wimbledon from her prison cell.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe sat down with tennis champion Murray a few weeks ago at the LTA in Roehampton to talk about why winning Wimbledon in 2016 was so special.

Their conversation aired this morning (Wednesday, December 28) on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was detained arbitrarily for six years in Iran, described how after five months in solitary confinement without access to news or books, the prison guards allowed her to watch the television in her cell.

There were only two channels on offer: one showing Iranian soap operas, another showing sport.

“The first [sport] which was on was Wimbledon,” she told Murray, in conversation.

“[The guards] had no idea what they had given me.

“There I was in solitary confinement watching the match that you won in the end.

“I can’t tell you how joyful it was. I was ecstatic to see you win.”

Murray explained that the match was hugely significant to him also.

“In 2016 that was probably the best moment I’d had on a tennis court,” he said.

“I think what you’ve told me is by far the strangest, most incredible story that I’ve been told about someone watching me.

“Nothing has come close to that,” he added.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe recalled that watching the match in 2016 helped her feel closer to home, even when miles away and in isolation.

“Sport pulls us out of our individual confines and gets us together,” she said.

Murray responded tearfully: “Your story is incredible. I find myself getting quite emotional.”

As guest editor of the programme, Zaghari-Ratcliffe also spoke to Yotam Ottolenghi and Stella Assange on the theme of finding freedom in difficult times.