British Couple Sentenced To 10 Years For Spying In Iran.

Lindsey Foreman was due to make a presentation in Australia at a wellbeing conference six months after they started their journey. She was travelling through various countries asking, 'What makes a good life?'. She filmed people in Iran answering her questions. She also put several photos on Instagram whilst still in Iran. It was purely a personal project.

I think she felt that if she included people who lived under oppressive regimes it would somehow show that there is 'good' everywhere and also make her project more noticeable. I believe she was disappointed that the conference only gave her poster space for her findings, rather than an actual talk / presentation.

In her interview with ITV last week she said she still wants to help others and has created a wall of positive quotes inside the prison for everyone to read! I get the feeling that at the moment she still wants to put a positive spin on things (good for her, maybe it keeps her going in awful conditions) and will want to 'use' the experience when she is released. I'm not sure that would be such a good idea given how much her imprisonment will cause the UK tax payer!

When detained they were on their final day in Iran and intending going on to Pakistan.

Morons doing moronic things.

I’m not talking about Iran’s justice system. I’m talking about them ‘deserving’ the consequences of their stupidity/arrogance/whatever. If they’d spent an uncomfortable few hours being questioned by the police before being deported I’d probably be on board with the majority view that they ought to have known better and I couldn’t care too much.

As it is, the consequences so hugely outweigh all the stuff that has earned them the annoyance of MN that I do have sympathy to spare.

I agree. While on one hand I feel extremely sorry for them,I do struggle to get my head around why someone would think that this is a sensible thing to do.

What kind of charity work can they realistically expect to do (whilst stopping off on a round the world motorbike tour) in Iran? Do they speak fluent Farsi? Have local or international connections to an NGO/recognised charity and or journalist connections? Even if you are a medic you can’t just turn up to a country in civil conflict and start administering medical care like some sort of saviour.
What a couple of entitled, deluded idiots on a mid-life adventure (probably bored of their comfortable life).

I have been there, individuals are mostly very nice. Officials don't do 'reasonable' about much at all.
Where were they intending to go after Iran?
Afghanistan is next door on a northern route. . . . .Not a good place to go either. South it would be via Baluchistan and Pakistan. All very restricting for women these days.

'a reasonable punishment is not ten years in prison'

We're talking about Iran. They don't do 'reasonable punishments'.

The Iranian regime does not recognise dual citizenship. She'd have known that, she took a big risk and whilst it was of course very distresing for her dh and dc that she was detained I've no idea why she didn't imagine the consequences.

The thing is they knew the risks, they just thought it wouldn't happen to them. But it did so that's that.

There are so many places I'd love to see but not enough to risk myself or my liberty. There's the rest of the world after all.

Gloriia all heart as usual.

Describing a visit to family as ‘a little trip’ is utterly patronising.

It’s also rewriting history somewhat. Having known people who come from politically volatile parts of the world, I’ve observed that for many it’s quite normal for them to take some risk in going home and will only give that up when the stakes get too high. Nazanin was imprisoned in a period during which tourism to Iran wasn’t off the table (I know several people who visited around this time and they were not thrill seekers or fools) and while there were more risks for dual nationals, there certainly hadn’t been the series of imprisonments we have seen since.

Whatever they may be guilty of - arrogance, foolishness, complacency, naïveté - a reasonable punishment is not ten years in prison. Since they don’t deserve what is an undoubtedly brutal and sadistic outcome, yes, I do feel sorry for them.

It’s the same in principle as the US student who died after being detained in North Korea for nicking a flag. Bloody stupid thing to do quite clearly, but what happened to him was an atrocity.

I’ll save any negative judgment in relation to this case for the Iranian government - and to say I think the thread is pretty tasteless.

Play stupid games win stupid prizes. Having said that it seems a steep sentence

They are still British citizens and entitled to the protection of British consulate/embassy services. Even if they live on top of Everest for the last 50 years.

I think she has said that she thought her duel Iranian citizenship would mean she was ok.

Not a particularly ludicrous assumption, and one she paid a high price for making.

They´re not the only ones. We had a Spaniard who was touring the world on his bike and when he went through Iran, instead of keeping his head down and getting out the other side as soon as possible, decided that visiting the tomb of the poor Kurdish lady who was murdered by that awful regime was a good idea. And recorded it on Insta o Tik Tok, can´t remember which, which I am sure those awful regime men police closely. He was arrested, accused of spying, and sentenced to I can´t remember how many years in jail. It took the Spanish government 2 years to get him released. God knows what they wanted in exchange. I don´t think we were ever told. Idiots abound it seems. That said, I wouldn´t wish Iranian prisons on anyone.

She said "The fight is not over. There are so many of my friends who are in prison. I will carry on as much as I can to help them and at least shine a light on their plight."

I honestly think comparing her to these fools is an insult to her.

'It could be a little more understandable if they had been youngsters driven by naivete of youth but they knew exactly what the risks were'

Exactly.

She was just as foolish whether she had a legitimate reason for her little trip or not. To go back to a country who imprison people willy nilly was a stupid thing to do. She knew the risks and went anyway.

Wrong, she helps victims.she still has an interest

They've lived full time in Spain for over half a decade

They are old enough to be fully aware of the risks. They would have known about Nazanin's story - it was reported for years.

It could be a little more understandable if they had been youngsters driven by naivete of youth but they knew exactly what the risks were.

They wanted an adventure in a dangerous place to brag about on social media. Smiling their way through the country and her wearing a headscarf wasn't enough to protect them - surprisingly! Idiots.

I read that the woman’s son is in touch with Richard Radcliffe- very different circumstances- plus knowing what happened to Nazanin would put anyone off travelling to Iran.

Likewise. Many Iranians where I live as well, don’t see them rushing back to the motherland.
why anyone would go there is a mystery to me - there are many counties to discover which aren’t dangerous and run by a corrupt regime.

They were arrogant and felt entitled. They knew the risks but made a decision to ignore them.
I would have sympathy for those who find themselves in a situation not of their own making but that certainly does not apply here.

They had absolutely no reason to go, Nazanin Zagari had a completely legitimate reason to take her child to her home country and see her family freely.

Lindsay Foreman has prepared for this , like some sort of mad challenge. Wait for the book/movie at the end of it.