Couple held in Iran

[StrawDonkey]

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.

That's interesting. Why are dual Iranian citizens more of a target than foreigners?

As regards this couple, I find the tone of this thread quite mean spirited. Iran is breath takingly beautiful and it's people are warm and friendly. I am dying to go myself, would love some authentic Iranian food. I am very sorry for this couple, as I completely understand the genuine open-heartedness that led them to it.

I saw a video of a woman who travelled to Afghanistan! She was treated very well, welcomed, shown hospitality and nothing happened. It was an experience of a life time. Some people are drawn to the parts of the world less travelled. I think this couple were just very unlucky to be marked out on this occasion. I hope they are released soon.

That's interesting. Why are dual Iranian citizens more of a target than foreigners?

Dual nationality is precisely what makes individuals such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe bargaining chips in the Iranian State’s geopolitical calculations.[10] Iran’s policies reveal continued suspicion of the allegiances and loyalties of dual nationals and concomitant security fears of espionage, terrorism, and treason.[11] The Iranian State's approach to its nationals, under the new articulation of nationalism established after the 1979 Revolution, is defined in direct opposition to ‘the West’[12] and thus considers dual Iranian-‘Western’ nationality the ultimate form of betrayal, as far as dual nationalities are concerned

https://www.dohainstitute.org/en/PoliticalStudies/Pages/the-dis-benefits-and-dis-advantages-of-dual-nationality-for-iranian-dual-citizens.aspx

Experience of a lifetime?? You can say that again.....

Oh dear God. This is exactly the type of smug, self absorbed, twattish attitude that would make me run for the hills rather than interact with them. I expect your average Iranian would feel exactly the same?

I think this couple were just very unlucky to be marked out on this occasion.

They weren't "unlucky". They went. They posted on SM what they were doing and their intention to share it at a conference in Australia.

If they'd have gone and entered quietly and left quietly without announcing it on the World Wide Web they would have more chance of doing un noticed.

Well at least they'll get to fully immerse themselves in an authentic Iranian prison experience.

Which is nice.

They must be the Mr and Mrs Bean of espionage.

Did she now? Well I'm glad she had a lovely time playing poster girl for the most repressive regime on the planet. 😒

I wonder whether her time would have been quite so lovely if she'd asked a few questions like "why are girls and women barred from education and work?"

They should have been deterred by what happened to Nazanin and many others. Plus the FCO advice. Clearly they weren’t up for listening so I’m not sure others like them would be either.

It beggars belief, shows astonishing naivety and a complete lack of understanding of the complex political situation in the whole region.

@dottiedodah Hopefully they will be released at some point, and it may deter others who are thinking of something similar.

You mean people like these morons who weren't put off by the six years of hell that Nazanin went through?

Oh well, that's perfectly alright then.

I assume she just turned a blind eye to the fact millions of Afghani women and girls are brutally silenced and oppressed by a medieval regime that hates them?

She probably thought she could get them to change their stance with some positive mental energy or something 🙄.

“I am dying to go myself” and this may well happen, to yet another innocent abroad

Extremely naive. I heard they have been charged with espionage. They were conducting research on quality of life or some such. I can just imagine though, turning up in a place like that and asking people questions 'for research' is just going to throw up massive red flags. If you feel you 'have to go' to somewhere lie this, you keep your head down and don't draw attention to yourself. You don't question people on their lifestyle.

Reminds me of that pair of influencers who were arrested somewhere similar for flying drones to take aerial shots for social media.

Some people are drawn to the parts of the world less travelled

Nowt wrong with that. But there’s a big difference in going to unusual places versus dangerous places that you’re advised not to go for your own safety.

The article describes them as living in Spain as "expats" 🤣🤣🤣

@TailLikeaMonkey Reminds me of that pair of influencers who were arrested somewhere similar for flying drones to take aerial shots for social media.

And the Peru two, who "didn't understand" the seriousness of trying to smuggle a million of pounds worth of cocaine out of the country.

Yes, because the Taliban are so open and receptive towards the opinions of women.

Oh no, wait ......

They probably just needed to realign their chakras or something! Maybe she also encouraged them to BeKind.

Or maybe .... they are actual spies👀🤣🤣

They are pretty bloody inept then. Unless MI6 have started recruiting from mindfulness retreats.

I almost wish they were spies. As much as I think they've been unbelievably arrogant, rash and stupid, we can only imagine what sort of hell they must be going through right now.

I travelled a lot in my 20/30's, we would often meet people like them, keen to show us how 'boring' we all were just backpacking around the safe bits of India rather than venturing into extremely dangerous Kashmir and the likes.

Breathtakingly beautiful you say? Bit like the Scottish Highlands!

Honestly, you’re dying to go, off you trot. But expect zero empathy and a tone in this thread to be given to you.

Ridiculous!