'It's wonderful to be home,' Homa Hoodfar says after landing in Montreal

Homa Hoodfararrivedin Montreal this morning to hugs and cheers after being detainedin an Iranian prison since June.

"It's wonderful to be home and united with family and friends again," Hoodfar said at a news conferenceat Pierre ElliottTrudeauAirport, as she smiled and clutched the hand of her niece,AmandaGhahremani.

Hoodfar said she didn't believe she was actually on the way home until she was on the plane out of Iran.

"Actually, I didn't feel I would be released until I was in the jet,'' she said."As they say, in Iran, nothing is possible and everything is possible."

Hoodfarthanked the federal government and Oman for helping to secure her release.

• ANALYSIS|HomaHoodfar: A hostage, not a criminal

"I've had a bitterseven months and the detention has left me weak and tired," she said.

'Dabbling in feminism'

Homa Hoodfar: 'It's wonderful to be home'

8 years ago

Duration 1:46

Thanks supporters after release from Iran jail

Hoodfar, a65-year-old Iranian-Canadian, is known for her research on Muslim women in various regions of the world.

She travelled to Iran in February to see family and do academic research but was arrested in March, just as she was set to return to Montreal.

She was released on bail and thenrearrestedin early June.

Shewas accused by Iranian authorities ofcollaborating with a hostile government against national security and with propaganda against the state.

Those charges, however, were neverpresented to her lawyer. Instead, they were published in the Iranian press, which quotedthe prosecutor as sayingHoodfarwas "dabbling in feminism."

Detention took a toll

Hoodfar wasn't sure she'd be released

8 years ago

Duration 0:39

She only knew she was being freed when she was on the jet

Hoodfar left Iran onMonday and has spent the past few days in Oman.

Friends and familywere on hand for an emotional welcome.

"We are overjoyed," said Theresa Bianco,afriend from Concordiawho came to the airport with flowers for Hoodfar.

"In many ways this has been surreal."

Her family had feared the worst in recent weeks, saying her health was deteriorating while in solitary confinement.

Hoodfar's release came following Foreign Affairs Minister Stphane Dion'smeeting with his Iranian counterpartat the United Nations in New York last week.

• Private meeting at UN led toHoodfar'srelease by Iran

In a statement,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also thanked Italy, Switzerland and Oman for their help in the matter.

Canadahas had no formal diplomatic relations with Iran since September 2012, when the former Conservative governmentclosed its embassy in Tehranand expelled Iranian diplomats from Ottawa.

Iran does not recognize dual nationalities, meaning those detained cannot receive consular assistance. In previous cases, dual nationals have faced secret charges in closed-door hearings in Iran's Revolutionary Court, which handles cases involving alleged attempts to overthrow the government.

Several dual nationals have been arrested in the year. Analysts have suggested Iranian hard-liners hope to use them as bargaining chips with the West.