Full Breakdown
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s Prison Survival Tactics in Iran
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Detention and Contraband Entertainment
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian former charity worker, was detained in 2016 and spent more than five years in Tehran’s Evin prison. While incarcerated, she and other inmates smuggled USB sticks loaded with Netflix series such as *Breaking Bad*, *Prison Break* and *Orange is the New Black*. The shows provided a rare link to life outside the cell and a shared cultural reference point for the prisoners. In addition to video files, Zaghari-Ratcliffe managed to bring in Zumba workout videos and even a Swiss Army knife, which she concealed in her shoe despite the severe penalties for possessing a weapon in prison.
Creative Survival: Sewing and Collaboration
With limited recreational options, Zaghari-Ratcliffe turned to the prison’s sewing machine, producing clothing for her daughter and fellow inmates. The activity evolved into a larger artistic project after her release, leading to a partnership with London’s Imperial War Museum and the fabric department of Liberty. Together they created three prints that reflect her experience of confinement. She also organized makeshift pizza-making sessions, using an improvised oven to bake for other prisoners, an effort she described as “queen of the pizza dough” in the prison.
Political Context and Official Responses
Iran’s authorities charged Zaghari-Ratcliffe with espionage, a claim she denied and for which no evidence was presented. Observers and analysts have described her detention as a form of state hostage-taking intended to pressure the United Kingdom into repaying a multimillion-pound debt linked to a historic military agreement with the deposed Shah of Iran. The British government, then led by the Conservative Party, ultimately settled the debt, after which Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released.
Aftermath and Ongoing Impact
Since her freedom, Zaghari-Ratcliffe has sought therapy for the trauma of imprisonment. She continues to rely on sewing as a calming practice, especially during periods of heightened tension, such as the brief internet blackout that followed a military incident in Iran. Her story highlights how contraband media, creative crafts, and small acts of solidarity can provide psychological sustenance under harsh political imprisonment.