Couple held in Iran

I'm not sure the Iranian authorities would appreciate them sharing pictures from their country and talking about them on Instagram etc. Even the head covering she attempts is sloppy and half hearted when chatting to locals.

It's the arrogance of them that takes my breath away, they really thought that believing there are nice people everywhere would somehow act as a talisman over them??

I don’t think anyone is wishing that on them, I think everyone’s reaction is “they knew the risks, it was idiotic”, it’s very difficult to be hugely empathetic when someone has chosen to be so reckless. They were warned by so many people, but apparently because they got a visa, they had every right to be there.

Rights and recklessness are two very different things.

I also object to being a “hard hearted woman” for my views.

Do woman need to all think a particular way, must be soft and nurturing at all times, can’t have an opinion on events outside of total empathy.

I’m not hard hearted, I’m realistic.

While I hope they aren’t treated too shabbily - everyone with half a brain knows that if you enter Iran as a westerner you are most likely to be used as a pawn in their geopolitical games. Iran doesn’t ‘do’ rights and the UK has insufficient influence in the modern world to demand decent treatment of its citizens (regardless of the guff they write at the front of the passport).

They are fools. I hope their foolishness doesn’t end in tragedy.

My auntie went a few years ago on an organised tour and wore government approved clothing.....she said it was beautiful but she was very very careful and stuck to every rule she was given.

There will now be people out at risk to try and rescue them

I really don't think there will be. I'm sure there will be diplomatic efforts but we have very little traction in Iran right now. They may, if they're lucky, be added to some future prisoner trade, or form part of some deal if we have something Iran wants but no ones going in to get them SAS style.

The woman's brother's mother in law tweeted about it. She expressed real concern for the couple but she still agreed with the many comments saying they shouldn't have gone and said the family warned them and also couldn't believe they did it anyway. She used the word "naive" but didn't argue with people using the word "stupid".

I don’t disagree with you, or all those making points about their decisions being stupid and irresponsible and selfish. I just think a little human compassion is appropriate for the torture and possibly decades detained they will now suffer.

I don't think anyone has said they couldn't care less that they'll now suffer.

But they chose to put themselves in this situation knowing that they were putting themselves in this situation and knowing the situation would mean torture.

There will now be people out at risk to try and rescue them or even more of taxpayers money used to get them out.

They chose that.

They chose despite being residents of Spain right now to put themselves in a position that the British embassy would have to rescue them from.

People are just saying they were stupid - because they were.

I have been in a situation where someone close to me got into difficulty abroad, and it made the news. People's reactions on social media were horrible. Some comments were justified, others were not. But even ones that are justified, it's not nice seeing how someone that you're close to gets torn down over and over and over again. You know this couple, their good sides as well as bad ones, not the one stupid thing they've done that makes everyone pile on. I'd strongly recommend staying away from social media posts about this couple. You won't change anyone's mind and it'll just make you feel awful. For you and their other friends & family I hope they get lucky and get to leave Iran in the near future.

It sounds as though they did it purely to promote their business, to demonstrate that being brave/positive/optimistic reaps reward. I imagine she was planning a life affirming, emotional piece to camera on leaving Iran. Hasn't quite gone to plan, eh!

@bamboo12 well they pushed the boundaries and the boundaries stayed firm and now they are where they are. Everyone knew those boundaries were immovable. So what happens now? What did they expect would happen? These are reasonable questions.

I'd probably move it further down that list. It isn't going to become safe any time soon.

They didn't just stumble into Iran or make an on the hoof decision. They planned out their trip and, against all strong advice, which they knew, still went to Iran. They could have planned a different route but actively selected this one.

I don’t disagree with you, or all those making points about their decisions being stupid and irresponsible and selfish. I just think a little human compassion is appropriate for the torture and possibly decades detained they will now suffer.

But they would think you are nasty old cynic for saying the Iranians torture and imprison people just for being foreign nationals. They were out to prove that everyone everywhere is kind and lovely and that anyone who disagreed with them has been duped by some Western media or government narrative.

I guess the visa was granted because the Iranian regime was in need of some fresh British hostages.

Sorry but they were utterly stupid no matter how nice they are. Surely they must have followed NZR's plight over the 5 years she was held captive?!

And it also disregards what other negotiations might be derailed because of it, now the Iranian authorities have the upper hand.

“Want your citizens back? Stop pressuring us about women’s rights/freedom of speech/political prisoners then.”

Actually there is something lacking in a person that puts themselves in that position.

I agree.

@IWouldBeATerribleMayor You speak a lot of sense. I will admit that my sympathy isn't overflowing towards them and getting them out doesn't top of my list of uses of taxpayers money (and if that makes me hard hearted then so be it) but I have no desire whatsoever for there to be ill treatment, torture or death bestowed upon them.

If only they’d read about foreign nationals being tortured…… If only that information was freely available?

Maybe they’d have though more about crossing the border?

"Come into the parlour", said the spider to the fly...

Being granted a visa doesn't make it any wiser or safer a decision to go.

Agree. They think they had rights but appear to have forgotten about responsibility and duty to act on Foreign Office advice and not travel to Iran. They are monumentally stupid and quite honestly deserve what has happened to them, I have no sympathy whatsoever.
All the cost and massive diplomatic and consular effort which will be required to get these morons released is such a waste of time and effort and could have been avoided if they'd acted like normal adults.

I think if you actually read most of the repsonses people have said they are bloody stupid. Plus people hope they actually get out alive.

No lack of compassion there. Just a collective banging of heads on desks at their stupidity. Plus their 'stupid decision' was so well thought out and deliberate they wrote on their own insta pages about how they were defying the pleas of family, friends and the FCO.

They are fools. Hopefully they will be alive fools at the end of the day, but that does not negate the fact they were deliberate idiots who are now expecting us all to bail them out. I have sympathy for them. I also have sympathy for the people who are trying to help them at significant cost. I also have sympathy for the Iranian nationals who have been the unwitting pawns of stupid Westerners who may have put them in danger by publicising the fact they in some politemess spoke to these mad people and had their photos plastered all over Western media and western social media.