Couple held in Iran

Not the best. But it was the only thing I could find at short notice. It has people by name and year incarcerated.

It does come over as really naff. I feel for their families having to worry over them. Very entitled self centered individuals.

You rely on Wiki 🤦‍♀️

*counted🙄

Wiki says 16 But I could have less one or one more.

It’s unfortunate 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

If you don’t know the statistics, it’s not worth posting is it?

You presume a lot more idiots than 16 though?

From Yahoo News. They just come across as so naff! 😆

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/craig-lindsay-foreman-iran-british-couple-espionage-spying-165749710.html

James Hockaday
Updated Tue 18 February 2025 at 12:06 pm GMT·5-min read

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who have been detained in Iran. (PA/Family handout) (Family Handout/PA Wire)

A married British couple detained in Iran during a round-the-world motorcycle trip have been charged with espionage, the country's judiciary news agency has said. Craig and Lindsay Foreman were reportedly held in January, but the country’s state-run media only revealed last week they had been accused of security-related offences.

On Tuesday, Iran's Mizan news agency said they had been charged after collecting information in different locations in the country. The Foreign Office advises on its website against all travel to Iran and warns of the risk of travellers being detained.

On Saturday the couple's family said their situation was causing "significant concern" and are determined to secure their "safe return".

What we know

Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both in their early 50s, were on a motorcycle journey around the world and were ultimately heading for Australia before their arrest. The married couple crossed into Iran from Armenia on 30 December, according to social media posts. Mrs Foreman was said to be carrying out a research project as part of the journey, asking people what constitutes a "good life". She was due to present her findings at a conference on positive psychology in Brisbane in July, the BBC reported.

The couple had shared regular social media updates from the Middle Eastern country, writing in a Facebook post on 3 January that they were having "the most amazing time" there. Mrs Foreman acknowledged that travelling to Iran
against Foreign Office advice was "slightly scary".

"Yes, we're aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear," she said. "From the vast deserts of Iran to the towering peaks of Pakistan, we hope to share the beauty, hospitality, and humanity that often go unnoticed."

In other posts, the couple said they had been "overwhelmed by the sense of connection" in Iran, while another picture claimed to show Mrs Foreman with a "kind-hearted mullah" at the Madrasa Naseriyeh in Isfahan. "Despite our differences in background, language, and belief, this gesture said everything: I see you. I honour you. We are connected," the caption read.

*other places in the world

This. ^ Not a shred of compassion from me. They were warned over and over to not go to Iran, and they did. They were warned over and over to not do what they planned to do. But they still did it. They deserve anything they get from now on.

I save my compassion for people who deserve it.

Oh get over.

The world is screwed and yes, believe it or not Afghanistan has another side. The woman was well aware of how the women were treated. You can go somewhere and not agree with it's values. Plenty of Brits travel to Saudi and aren't troubling themselves too much while lying on the beach, about the criminal system or how women are treated. And plenty people traveled to Israel without being too concerned about the Palestinians or other places renowned for being child sex trafficking hot spots and nor, frankly, should they have to. They might choose to consider these things and travel ethically, but tourists do not have to think about the injustices or the government of the country they're travelling to. If they want to, that's for them to decide.

I have read this since I first posted. I think they are bloody idiots, but can’t help feeling some compassion for the situation they now find themselves in.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck ergo if it acts like an idiot then it must be an idiot. There is nothing wrong with stating the obvious and it is obvious these 2 have been idiots.

What makes me cringe is their social media pages. Literally posting about how dangerous it is, the warnings about being arrested if you’re British, going against friends advice- they’re travelling there anyway.

Idiots. Unless they’re actually spies. Which they could be .

It has not made those efforts recently and certainly not towards Brits (or citizens of USA or Canada). And anybody who blogs, films, meets clerics, uses SM and whizzes about on a motorbike whilst gurning like a loon plainly has a somewhat naive view of things that are likely to grab the attention of the despicable morality police.

DH used to visit Iran pre-Trump 1.0 (and pre-DC) but will not risk it in the current climate. I was desperate to see my MIL in Tehran before she died, but couldn’t/wouldn’t risk it. The FCO is in a much better position than any of us to predict and assess the risk, and doesn’t issue “do not travel” advice lightly.

Boost tourism if you are NOT from the UK or US! If you are either of those nationalities then current advice is do not go - it's really very simple.

Hubris!

This couple thought it was fine to 'push the boundaries' because they were more daring and interesting than the average Brit. They would go where others feared to tread and show the world (at a public conference) that they had triumphed and we should all just 'go for it'. Magical thinking!
Not only was there arrogance that the rules didn't apply to them, but they actively participated in actions which gave the regime a reason to arrest them.

@EsmaCannonball Wrong thread..............?

Dear Women of Afghanistan,

Never mind that you can't be treated by a male medical professional, even though women are no longer allowed to train or work as medical professionals, and never mind that you can't leave the house without a male guardian and you aren't permitted to be seen or heard by neighbours or passers-by even when you are in our own home, and forget all that stuff about women being shot or beheaded because they played sports or held political office. Everything is fine and anyone who thinks otherwise is just suffering from uneducated Western bias. Some lady tourist will be along soon to show the world how lovely everything is in Afghanistan and, although nothing will have materially changed for you, people will be a lot kinder and less bigoted when they think of your country.

Yours,

The Deluded

P.S. Yanis Varoufakis would like to know if you are still hanging on in there? He'd ask you himself but it's a bit hard when you are not allowed to speak to strange men.

Absolute fools both of them. Such an arrogant pair of twats. The sort of 'look how much we travel, aren't we so amazing, we're so worldly wise' type of bores who think they're 'better people' because they travel a lot.

IDGAF what happens to them and really hope this country washes their hands of them! They made their bed. I agree with other posters... they are arrogant and entitled idiots. Let them sort their own shit out.

I have seen a few news items on them this past 2 days, and they appear to be attention-seeking, publicity hungry, fame whores who are desperate to be seen. Well, they have got their 'fame' now! Bet it's not the sort they wanted though. Every single person I have spoke to, or seen talking about this, is laughing at them, and thinks they're pathetic morons.

.

Because it most often doesn't happen. According to Internet there have been roughly 16 Brits detained since 1980.

I don't know how many Brits have visited Iran and returned safely in that time, but I assume it's a lot more. Iran has actually made attempts to boost tourism in the past quite surprisingly.

But the whole point is they did NOT weigh up the risk. They boasted on social media how they were advised - strongly- against it by family, friends and the foreign office, but they chose to go because 'people are good and we are good and people like us walk between the raindrops because we are good and ever so naice people' guff.

They deliberately and knowingly and willingly ignored all the risks because they are at one with the universe or some such rubbish.

Exactly @Jux - and crossed a land border on a flipping motorbike! Conspicuous, much?

They purported to be tourists but used it as a research trip. What did they think would happen?

I do think it shows great egocentrism to have gone against all the recent advice, and yes, they were idiots. So tempted to wash hands of them (if I were in a position to do so) but we can't do that and have to spend the money on sorting it out. I wonder if Boris can help? 😁