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.

I suspect somebody saw them coming… But if you meet the conditions (guide, sponsor, etc) anyone can apply. It’s just unusual because of the FCO advice and because the regime’s hostility towards “the West” means it’s not guaranteed. (If there was a realistic option to surrender his Iranian passport which allows visa-free travel to Iran, DH would do it. Continuing to hold the passport alongside his UK one causes no end of problems for getting visas to other countries, most notably the US).

What gets me is the arrogance of “we’ve decided it’s worth the risk”. Other than their massive egos, what gives this couple the idea that they know better than the FCO (whose job it is to assess this type of risk, and whose advice is, unequivocally, don’t even fucking think about it?) Down with experts, eh?

Jesus wept, the naïveté and tone deafness of that FB post. “We’re having to use a vpn to get on social media”. Yes love, that’ll be because your friendly fundamentalist mullahs in charge are none too keen on folk using SM to communicate, or circumventing the law that prohibits SM use using technology, so if you post about intending to do just that, expects peons on shit to land imminently.

My word. They think they’re in a National Trust tearoom. Were they planning on Selfies from Syria too?

I've just had a look at some of the photos.

The VPN was a really bad idea. Then they uploaded photos of them holding hands and cuddling.

Why take the risk of having those photos? Then risk things further by uploading them?

@sashh I suspect the desire to look edgy and worldly on IG overrode any modicum of sanity or self-preservation.

Or even bothering to keep updated on world events or read FCO advice.

Thing is you can watch videos taken by Chinese tourists in Iran. And they can explore without a guide, take drone footage, chat and take selfies with locals, post it on YouTube.

But they are Chinese.

None of these activities are acceptable to the Iranian regime from a British passport holder.

But this couple think the world is a big happy clappy family so they won’t make that 👆distinction. Is the woman really a professor of something? If so why the flash cards?

She's a professor of psychology and life coach.

I'm not sure I'd want to see her for guidance about what do with my life 😉

She is not a professor. She has a PhD (I've read her thesis... it's "different"...) but she has no current academic affiliation and no research or teaching position at any university. 🙏

I think they are the type that think advice from the Foreign Office and suchlike is for the birds. They of course want to show off that rules are not for them effectively a 'look at me' scenario. Worked out well for them didnt it?

She is a lecturer at the Institue of Positive Psychology. Whatever that is

Exactly. The astonishing arrogance of this couple! I'm pretty sure that everyone of the Iranians they spoke to will be rounded up and taken away for questioning. And quite likely never to be seen again.

Not surprising, as no university research ethics committee would have given her ethical approval for travel to Iran as described. It would have been rejected as too dangerous.

It's just mind boggling, they think it's all a game don't they? Or should I say, thought....we're so cool that we need an armed escort, for the love of god...

Yes, all of this. If the UK government pays for their release (and I hope to god it doesn’t), what exactly do we think a terrorist regime fighting proxy wars in Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen, and under threat from Israel, is going to use the money for? Because it won’t be building playgrounds or hospitals.

Of course, people in the UK are in no serious danger of suffering any harm from the consequences of this couple’s crass decisions, so can afford to be blasé about potentially funneling millions to death cult sympathisers. My FIL and my MIL’s brother were both imprisoned by the regime in the 1980’s for much less than the unfortunate Iranians caught in this couple’s charade. No doubt they will be forgotten, while the foolish Brits are still front page news.

@Vinvertebrate the UK will have to pay for their release for sure - probably not in cash but there will be some quid pro quo. Or they will stay in jail for a while. The elderly Austrian dual national got sentenced for 10 years for espionage, Austria got him out after 3 but had to cut a deal.

I am sorry to hear about your relatives.

I don't think they are married and were seen kissing and holding hands in Iran . Will that go against them also ?

@Vinvertebrate

I thought this couple were Australian ?

@BigBlueRhino I believe they were British (UK passport), living in Spain, en route to Australia overland to attend a conference.

I am not sure that the hugging/kissing etc will make any material difference, given the massive steaming pile of shite they are eyes-deep in anyway, but yes it does contribute to the overwhelming impression of arrogance, cultural insensitivity and white savior-complex that seems to be oozing from them! And it won’t win them any friends amongst the regime or its puppets, like the morality police.

Sorry for all the anecdotes, but SIL was picked up by the morality police for “unIslamic dress” because of the cut of her jeans (purchased on a shopping trip with me in the UK!) There is zero tolerance of this stuff if you are unlucky enough to be caught.

Thank you @SchoolDilemma17 - they were “lucky” because they were (eventually) released without charge, although FIL’s pensions and savings were confiscated.

I for one appreciate the anecdotes @Vinvertebrate because I think some people simply don't understand what is being dealt with- and having magical thinking and a magical western passport isn't a get out of jail free card in and of itself.

And YY to White Saviour complexes. They are in a desperate situation. The fact it's of their own making is frustrating beyond belief and i am concerned about the Iranians they have been photographed with - like others I too have the expectation they have some unpleasant times ahead themselves as the authorities have photographic proof that they were associating with westerners now arrested for espionage.

Apparently they were featured on Channel 4s A New Life in the Sun when they moved from the UK to Spain .

Yes I think they were on some kind of mission to prove that Iran wasn't the Oppressive Regime portrayed by the press and everyone is loving and kind which of course not everyone is .

I do think their intentions were good but they have been very very naive at worst arrogant as in it won't happen to us . By interviewing and filming they have come across as investigative journalists not the tourists they were .

I thought public displays of affection such as handholding kissing etc particularly if you are not married was a big no no in a lot of Islamic countries. I know it is in Dubai although it probably is cultural . I remember being frowned at and cussed in Turkey for holding hands with my husband in public .

I do feel for this couple as I think their intentions were good and they are nice decent people at heart .

Yes they are Spanish residents. They rent out a holiday villa there.

That’s why someone I know won’t go back to visit her family, her father is Iranian and he won’t go either.