Page 5 | Couple held in Iran

StrawDonkey · 2025-02-15T16:44:23+00:00

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

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😮

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.

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?

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.

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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.

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

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!

MikeRafone · 16/02/2025 04:54

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

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.

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

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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.

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.

Kiwi83 · 16/02/2025 06:00

I have no sympathy at all tbh. They're fucking idiots.

Justalittlehandhold · 16/02/2025 06:10

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.

What a ridiculous assumption. Plenty of women are able to voice their own opinions and not do ridiculous things to please a man.

Your assumption that all women now dine to men, is insulting and widely wrong!

ChessorBuckaroo · 16/02/2025 06:23

Mochudubh · 15/02/2025 19:38

Pair of twats.

Middle-aged, middle class, self-indulgent twats.

Only a tiny minority of people their age have the resources to just take off and go round the world to "find themselves" or spread love or whatever the fuck they though they were doing. Generous early retirement packages is my guess. Well they can spend what's left of their retirement money on lawyers to get them out.

They remind me of the American missionary guy who went off to bring Jesus to some uncontacted island tribe in the Indian Ocean despite many warnings that these people REALLY did not like outsiders. It did not end well.

Edited

He got off a canoe (which quickly departed after dropping him off) to bring them the "good news". They greeted him spears. Don't think he even made it to shore.

ssd · 16/02/2025 06:36

He's a carpenter and she is a life coach with a doctorate in psychology. That bbc article couldn't describe a pair of wankers better if it tried.

romatheroamer · 16/02/2025 06:39

Certainly naive, stupid and idiotic but not arrogant. Arrogant means having an exaggerated sense of your own importance, I don't get that about them from the story. And what's their being middle class got to do with it?

dottiedodah · 16/02/2025 06:45

Apparently they felt "most people in the world are basically nice an kind" ! WtF .Honestly they sound about 6 .Nazanin was visiting her family and was Iranian she was captured.these people ignored advice,and just went for it .what did they think would happen

BlueSilverCats · 16/02/2025 06:54

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.

At least read the article first .

sashh · 16/02/2025 07:02

Stupid to travel there and even more stupid to do 'research'.

It doesn't matter if 99% of Iranians hate the regime and are good people (and everyone I've met from Iran / Persia has been) the fact is the government isn't like that and the government have power.

Any 'research' is going to be seen as spying by the government.

MagdaLenor · 16/02/2025 07:03

hazelnutvanillalatte · 16/02/2025 05:42

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.

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Did she? What did she say?

Superhansrantowindsor · 16/02/2025 07:07

It’s like those people who go up Ben Nevis in flip flops in winter. And then some poor souls have to take enormous risks to rescue them. They knew the risks but arrogantly thought they knew best.

SchoolDilemma17 · 16/02/2025 07:09

Mittens67 · 16/02/2025 02:56

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.

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Did you see her instagram? She is super enthusiastic about Iran and this trip. I highly doubt she was coerced.
BTW posting photos while thete of meeting with mullahs and others was also a very stupid idea. I hope no locals got in trouble because of her.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/02/2025 07:09

Rugbyterms · 15/02/2025 17:34

I have no sympathy I am afraid. Surely they must have heard of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe was a dual national. Under Iranian law - like various other countries' law- dual nationality is not recognised and she was effectively an Iranian citizen. This couple were not

CerealPosterHere · 16/02/2025 07:09

Now I’m reading this thread thinking would I rather lose both hands to a shark or spend six years in an Iranian prison. Decided I’d actually rather spend time in an Iranian prison. Hopefully they get released sooner than six years!

They are daft but obviously just thought they’d be fine, they’d be able to convince the authorities they’re just passing through on their trip/not a spy. Not realising actually the Iranians don’t care…they may just want them to use as a political pawn.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/02/2025 07:11

saraclara · 15/02/2025 17:29

Iran is a wonderful place, and I'm so glad that I went when I did.
But they were stupid, because apart from anything else, even when I went, it was compulsory for Brits to travel with an agent. Being there independently of a travel company was not allowed. To do so at a less stable time was just foolish.

ETA apparently they WERE with a tour guide. But still, really not a safe time to be there.

Edited

It still is compulsory for Brits (and US citizens) to travel with a tour guide. Most other nationalities can enjoy independent travel in Iran and less stringent visa regulations

SchoolDilemma17 · 16/02/2025 07:12

From her instagram