Andy Murray issued a cordial welcome to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian lady who was detained in Iran, to join the famous tennis competition at Wimbledon 2023. The two-time Wimbledon winner Murray revealed the motivational tale behind his invitation.
The struggle for release and torture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe have attracted a lot of attention on a global scale. Murray intended to spread awareness and demonstrate support for her cause by inviting her to the All England Club. This kind deed demonstrates the ability of sports to draw attention to significant social concerns and emphasises Murray’s dedication to utilise his position to effect change.
Andy Murray invites Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to watch him play at Wimbledon 2023
Andy Murray voiced his delight at Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a contentious novelist, being able to see him play live at the competition rather than from her jail cell at this year’s Wimbledon. Murray defeated fellow Brit Ryan Peniston in the first round with a commanding score of 6-3, 6-0, 6-1. The Princess of Wales and Roger Federer watched Murray’s play from the Royal Box on Centre Court.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was imprisoned in Iran after being jailed there since 2016 for allegedly taking part in a plan to topple the Iranian government. She received an additional year in jail despite the fact that her previous sentence was set to expire in 2021 before being freed earlier this year. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was given access to a TV while she was incarcerated and saw a number of Wimbledon events, including Murray’s triumphant 2016 final.
đŁď¸ "The story she told me about watching my Wimbledon final whilst in a cell… I wanted to invite her to watch the tennis in totally different circumstances."
Andy Murray explains why he invited Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to watch him at Wimbledon â¤ď¸đž pic.twitter.com/GZBlcq4ccB
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 4, 2023
In a post-match news conference, Murray explained that when Zaghari-Ratcliffe told him her experience, he was moved to invite her to watch tennis in a totally different environment. Murray expressed his wish that she will have a far more pleasurable time watching Wimbledon from the Royal Box. Andy Murray wanted to give her a chance to see the sport in a completely new setting and give her a break from her previous trauma.
Why was Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in prison?
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian citizen, was detained in Iran during a visit to the country in 2016, accompanied by her daughter Gabriella. Prior to her arrest, she resided in London with her husband and daughter. She had worked as a project manager for the charity Thomson Reuters Foundation and had previous employment with BBC Media Action, an international development charity.
Iranian authorities accused Zaghari-Ratcliffe of plotting to overthrow the government, although no official charges were ever publicly disclosed. They claimed she was leading a “foreign-linked hostile network” and sentenced her to five years in prison.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe denied allegations of bringing her baby daughter to Iran to celebrate the Iranian new year. Thomson Reuters Foundation and BBC Media Action confirmed she was on vacation. After serving most of her prison term, she was sentenced to an additional year and a travel ban on charges of propaganda against the Iranian government. Despite her appeal, the case was lost.
Following months of negotiations between British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and her Iranian counterpart, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was finally released. Along with another British-Iranian individual, Anoosheh Ashoori, she arrived at RAF Brize Norton on March 17, 2021. Another dual national prisoner, Morad Tahbaz, was briefly released on furlough but was returned to prison after only two days.
