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Couple held in Iran

660 replies

StrawDonkey · 15/02/2025 16:44

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c626p6pz7xlo

AIBU to not understand why anyone would go on a motorcycle trip to Iran? Advice is not to go there at all but I can understand that someone desperate to see family would take a risk.

OP posts:
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hazelnutvanillalatte · 16/02/2025 05:42

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 00:01

What’s the betting that the bloke was the instigator and the woman went along with it despite her own misgivings?
How many of us have been persuaded into something stupid to please a man?
I know I certainly was at various points in my life.

No, I wouldn't automatically assume that. Women are just as capable of being naive and stupid as men. She posted on FB about going against government advice.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 16/02/2025 05:36

BlondiePortz · 16/02/2025 03:43

So women are not capable of making stupid decisions on their own, they need a man to think for them? How insulting

I know what @Mittens67 means. Especially when younger, it's easy to go along, what with being in love and everything.

I've certainly fought with partners over stupid and potentially dangerous things they wanted me to do, like taking a long drive in bad weather. And a friend's husband convinced her to cross the road when there wasn't time (split-second decision) and she wasn't fast enough to hold back. She got run over by a moped and got some broken ribs.

It's not just men, though. I had a friend who was happy to let random groups of unsavoury men join us during nights out.

Some people are just idiotic and see no danger.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 16/02/2025 05:30

MushMonster · 15/02/2025 16:47

I would not go.
I have been, in the past, like ten years ago or so, but I would stay well out of it in these days.

What was it like? I have an Iranian friend (who long since left Iran) but she showed me photos and it looked beautiful. I would like to go, but wouldn't dream of it unless it became safe.

MikeRafone · 16/02/2025 04:54

I feel for the families, they can’t stop them and then this happens

Purplelimesoda · 16/02/2025 04:47

Cattreesea · 15/02/2025 18:35

Two complete idiots.

I feel sorry for the officials who are going to have to waste their time trying to get them out.

This ... Let's hope no one is put in danger trying to get them out or that it cost millions in doing so frankly I'm of the opinion they signed their own waiver so they can get themselves out!

BlondiePortz · 16/02/2025 03:43

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 00:01

What’s the betting that the bloke was the instigator and the woman went along with it despite her own misgivings?
How many of us have been persuaded into something stupid to please a man?
I know I certainly was at various points in my life.

So women are not capable of making stupid decisions on their own, they need a man to think for them? How insulting

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 02:56

saraclara · 16/02/2025 00:23

The most enthusiastic travellers to less-travelled countries that I know (I'm one of them so I know quite a few) are female. I see no reason to assume that the husband coerced her.

Persuade does not mean coerce. But now having read this woman is a "life coach" she clearly has more than sufficient stupidity to have thought of this ridiculous plan herself.

McSpoot · 16/02/2025 01:42

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 00:01

What’s the betting that the bloke was the instigator and the woman went along with it despite her own misgivings?
How many of us have been persuaded into something stupid to please a man?
I know I certainly was at various points in my life.

I’d take that bet (against you). Why must it always be the man’s fault?

Beesandhoney123 · 16/02/2025 01:12

Bit surprised to learn she is was a life coach. Seems remarkably reckless and entitled of them both.

Presumably they will at some point return totally humiliated and vanish into obscurity.

I fear instead they will milk the experience for all its worth, and be very glib about risks. Which is very insulting to the FO, whom will have had to mess about getting them out.

ThinWomansBrain · 16/02/2025 01:09

FiveBarGate · 16/02/2025 00:54

The 'recording people' stories ' but made me do a double eye roll.

Wasn't the charge again Nazanin that she was accused of being a journalist. And so interviewing people would be especially unwise. Even if it's about the most mundane of topics.

I read in one article that she had a research grant😮

Lorelaigilmore88 · 16/02/2025 00:59

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/02/2025 16:50

I have zero sympathy- classic middle class arrogance, assuming they know better than all the advice.

100% agree with this. Everything i have read about them just smacks of a pair or annoying, middle class idiots who thought they knew better than people who are experts in the area. And now the government is going to have to waste time and energy sorting it out.

WellsAndThistles · 16/02/2025 00:57

Really hope none of this costs us UK tax payers, they knew the risks and can sort themselves out.

FiveBarGate · 16/02/2025 00:54

The 'recording people' stories ' but made me do a double eye roll.

Wasn't the charge again Nazanin that she was accused of being a journalist. And so interviewing people would be especially unwise. Even if it's about the most mundane of topics.

saraclara · 16/02/2025 00:23

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 00:01

What’s the betting that the bloke was the instigator and the woman went along with it despite her own misgivings?
How many of us have been persuaded into something stupid to please a man?
I know I certainly was at various points in my life.

The most enthusiastic travellers to less-travelled countries that I know (I'm one of them so I know quite a few) are female. I see no reason to assume that the husband coerced her.

Aposterhasnoname · 16/02/2025 00:08

I’d love to go to Iran, North Korea, and Afghanistan, but I won’t, cos I’m not fucking stupid

ThinWomansBrain · 16/02/2025 00:07

They are twats
"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."
They should be charged for any time expended in getting them released by the British Government or authorities - or wait for the Spanish government to so it, since that's where they live.

I'm sure an Iranian prison will enhance her sense of travel continuing "to teach me that humanity's core is shared: kindness, humility, and respect for one another."

Whammyyammy · 16/02/2025 00:02

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Their arrogance got them into this mess.

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 00:01

What’s the betting that the bloke was the instigator and the woman went along with it despite her own misgivings?
How many of us have been persuaded into something stupid to please a man?
I know I certainly was at various points in my life.

BlondiePortz · 15/02/2025 23:56

People make stupid decisions and never think about the people who have bail them out and put their lives at risk helping these people

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 15/02/2025 23:54

Chuchoter · 15/02/2025 18:28

Why is she gurning like a loon in the photos like she is possessed?

I can't imagine the fun police/hardcore Islamists thinking that's an acceptable way for a woman to behave in their 'women should be covered up and quiet' Islamic country .

To be honest, I would take exception to her manic mannerisms here in Wales 😕

Misogynistic much?

Yeah they were stupid and irresponsible. But commenting on just the woman's mannerisms is out of order and it has nothing really to do with this

snowsjoke · 15/02/2025 23:23

It'll make the best dinner party story.

Bloom15 · 15/02/2025 23:02

StScholastica · 15/02/2025 22:16

My DDs best friend (met at Uni) is from Iran and lives in fear that she will be sent back. Currently has one more year to work here as a doctor before she can apply for citizenship.
She misses her family and wants to go home but it's just not safe at present.
These two people are clueless. I really hope that the lives of others are not endangered in a rescue attempt.

They aren't clueless though - they just thought this problems wouldn't apply to them. As best naive and at worst wilfully ignorant

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/02/2025 22:53

Chuchoter · 15/02/2025 19:27

Remember the two American bicyclists killed in an attack in Tajikistan who were a couple from Washington, D.C., who quit their jobs to bike around the globe.

The couple, Jay Austin and Lauren Geoghegan, both 29, had been on the road for just over a year.
On their blog, they described the kindness and generosity of strangers around the world as they biked through Africa, Europe and central Asia.
There were hard days, setbacks and acts of cruelty, too — strangers who tried to run them off the road, or push them off their bikes.

Austin - "Badness exists, sure, but even that's quite rare. By and large, humans are kind. Self-interested sometimes, myopic sometimes, but kind. Generous and wonderful and kind. No greater revelation has come from our journey than this."

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the brutal attack that ended their lives, as well as the lives of two other foreign bicyclists. A car swerved to hit a group of seven bicyclists; assailants then jumped from the car and stabbed the bikers with knives.

......

I feel sorry for their families.

Tajikistan and Iran are very very different places with regard to safety. I would travel to the first at the moment (avoiding Pamir and the Afghan border etc.). But the country is largely fine to travel in. Iran, absolutely not at the moment.

Honestly, people have just been killed in Germany.

NotVeryFunny · 15/02/2025 22:32

GlitchStitch · 15/02/2025 17:36

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14400895/Captive-British-couple-Craig-Lindsay-Foremans-haunting-post-ignoring-advice-travel-Iran.html

The link above shows posts from them saying they are ignoring advice from their family, friends and the foreign office. I hope nobody is put at risk to rescue them.

They sound incredibly naive.

StScholastica · 15/02/2025 22:16

My DDs best friend (met at Uni) is from Iran and lives in fear that she will be sent back. Currently has one more year to work here as a doctor before she can apply for citizenship.
She misses her family and wants to go home but it's just not safe at present.
These two people are clueless. I really hope that the lives of others are not endangered in a rescue attempt.

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