Back on Australian soil after two years in an Iranian prison, Kylie Moore-Gilbert has penned a message of gratitude to supporters for giving her strength to endure the "never-ending, unrelenting nightmare".
The Australian-British academic was freed last week after spending more than two years in detention in Iran on spying charges she and the Australian government vehemently deny.
Ms Moore-Gilbert touched down in Canberra on Friday afternoon, passing on the message to a friends and colleagues-run Twitter account which published it on Tuesday while she undergoes two weeks in mandatory hotel quarantine.
In the short note, she said she was blown away and touched by the "incredible efforts" of those who campaigned for her release.
"I can't tell you how heartening it was to hear that my friends and colleagues were speaking up and hadn't forgotten me," Ms Moore-Gilbert wrote.
"It gave me so much hope and strength to endure what had seemed like a never-ending, unrelenting nightmare.
"My freedom truly is your victory. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week described Dr Moore-Gilbert as "an extraordinarily intelligent, strong and courageous woman" and hailed her return as a "moment of pure joy".
The Middle Eastern studies lecturer at Melbourne University was arrested at Tehran's airport in 2018 after attending an academic conference. She was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on spying charges.
The Australian government has refused to confirm reports that her release was secured as part of a prisoner exchange. Three Iranian prisoners were released from Thailand earlier this week.
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