Christians Release Christmas Single Naz Don’t Cry in Support of Imprisoned Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe | UK News
An unusual contender for Christmas #1 released today.
Thirty years ago, pop group The Christians released a song in support of British hostage John McCarthy who was kidnapped for five years in Lebanon.
Today, they re-released an improved version of the song Man Don’t Cry to send a message of hope and support to British Iranian women. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is currently being held against her will in Iran.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (right) is doing his will in Iran
Singer Gary Christian talks about Nazanin and her husband’s plight Richard is on a hunger strike outside the Foreign Office inspired the band to make the move.
He said: “When you see something like this, you feel so helpless, you can’t do anything about it, you’re sitting there and in tears when you see this and you think we have what can be done.”
The Christians invited Richard Ratcliffe and the couple’s daughter Gabriella to Liverpool to record the song that was adapted into Naz Don’t Cry.
He is calling on people to buy it in solidarity with Nazanin and his family. All profits go to charity.
“I hope people just, even if they don’t like the song, they don’t like me, christians or whatever, forget that just download it,” he said. “We want to raise money, we want to bring Nazanin back, back home.”
The song is accompanied by an emotional video that tells of some of the more emotional moments of the five-year effort to bring Nazanin home.
Gary Christian is urging people to download the single. Photo: Christians
Former hostage John McCarthy told Sky News he welcomes the song back in use and says the video is a powerful watch.
He said: “Looking at the video, I see everything coming back after I went back.
“And you know it’s been slow going when you see Richard out in Westminster Square on a hunger strike … it’s very powerful, you know. After a few viewings, one person was in tears.”
Nazanin is being held in Tehran against her will and faces being sent back to prison for more crimes.
Richard Ratcliffe’s hunger strike is included in the video. Photo: Christians
She can participate in the recording with a video call to hear what is being done to her name.
Her husband Richard told Sky News he hoped it would help lift her spirits.
“It’s a lovely song,” he said. “It’s an uplifting song. It’s a song that says don’t be sad, we’re still thinking about you, we’re still fighting for you, your husband is still going, there’s tomorrow.”
Richard Ratcliffe said he hoped the song would lift Nazanin’s spirits
The star of the video is Gabriella, daughter of Richard and Nazanin, who appears to play guitar and dream and play in front of the camera.
Mr Ratcliffe said: “With Christmas coming up, yesterday she asked when she’ll be back, and why it has to be My Mother – and there’s no easy answer for that.”
This will be Nazanin’s sixth Christmas outside of her family. Efforts to secure her release have made no progress.
John McCarthy said he was touched by the song
Richard has now gone on two hunger strikes to highlight her plight.
Her family’s hope that music can make a difference in the field of diplomacy has so far failed.
