On 3 April 2016, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was abducted at an Iranian airport while returning to London with her 22-month-old daughter after visiting family in Tehran, setting in motion years of captivity and upheaval. She was subjected to months of interrogation, falsely accused of attempting to overthrow the Iranian regime—an allegation... Read more
From Political Prisoner To Storyteller | Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe | One Young World
‘Until they are out, I will not be free’: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe on Iranian prisoners
Drawing on six years of imprisonment and the difficult process of rebuilding her life afterwards, Nazanin explores what resilience really means when circumstances are beyond our control, and how courage, hope and human connection can sustain us through profound adversity.
Nazanin reflects on what captivity taught her about freedom and the value we place on it, bringing a deeply personal perspective to wider conversations about human rights, political imprisonment and the responsibilities of free societies.
Release was not the end of Nazanin’s experience. She shares the complex reality of returning to family and society after six years of captivity, rebuilding relationships and identity, and learning to live alongside a past that cannot be changed.
Through her experience of isolation, imprisonment and eventual freedom, Nazanin explores the relationships, acts of solidarity and sense of purpose that help people endure extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Drawing on her own experience and subsequent advocacy, Nazanin speaks about political imprisonment, miscarriages of justice and the need for greater awareness and reform, both internationally and within the UK.
On 3 April 2016, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was abducted at an Iranian airport while returning to London with her 22-month-old daughter after visiting family in Tehran, setting in motion years of captivity and upheaval.
She was subjected to months of interrogation, falsely accused of attempting to overthrow the Iranian regime—an allegation she consistently denied—and sentenced to five years in prison. Over the next six years, she was held in a range of conditions, including solitary confinement, the general political ward of Evin Prison, electronic tagging and house arrest, during which she was banned from leaving the country.
Following six years of diplomatic negotiations, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was finally able to return home in March 2022. Her release, however, did not mark an easy end to her ordeal. Years of imprisonment had profoundly disrupted her life, and reintegrating into society proved far more difficult than anticipated. She returned with a deep sense that prison had stolen years she could never reclaim, leaving her to learn how to live with an irrevocably changed past.
In the aftermath of her release, she grappled with severe mental and physical consequences of her imprisonment, while simultaneously reconnecting with her family, rebuilding her relationship with her child, re-engaging with her community, and finding her place in society as a survivor of a grave miscarriage of justice.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s experience of captivity reaffirmed for her the value of life and freedom. She has since found purpose in sharing her story with others, advocating for political prisoners and prison reform in the UK, and contributing to cultural and public life. Since her release, she has guest-edited a programme for BBC Radio 4, judged a journalism prize for the Orwell Foundation, delivered keynote lectures at major book prizes, and received both Harper’s Bazaar Woman of the Year Award and the Courage Under Fire Award from the Magnitsky Human Rights Awards.
Nazanin is a contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar, an Ambassador for Give a Book, and has explored the healing power of craft through collaborations with Liberty and the Imperial War Museum, including designing a fabric collection inspired by incarceration and captivity during times of crisis.
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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Nazanin tailored to your event.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe speaks on Communication, Geopolitics, Inspirational Women, Mental Health, Motivation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Nazanin to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe for events worldwide, subject to Nazanin's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Nazanin can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Nazanin can offer.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's areas of expertise include Communication, Geopolitics, Inspirational Women, Mental Health, Motivation. To get a clear sense of Nazanin's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Communication, Geopolitics, Inspirational Women, Mental Health, Motivation is relevant. Details of Nazanin's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Nazanin's current availability for your dates.