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.

Yep. Going to Iran involved my first and only small group tour. I was so envious of my Dutch friend who was able to travel there independently. The hospitality is legendary, and it would have been amazing.

Fortunately, when I went, my tour involved a fair bit of free time and I was able to use it to wander around by myself, and make some wonderful connections with people. But I think not long after that, there was an insistence on being accompanied by a guide at all times.

I predict Iran will probably soon conclude they're way, WAY too dim to be spies and send them back.

It doesn't help that the FO advice is often over cautious though. There are so many cases where it gives an over the top sense of risk, that people start not to take it seriously,

I once read what the FO advice would be about travelling to England, using their same risk assessments. Most people would be put off, especially about going to London, if they took it seriously.

@Simonjt

Scroll down to the photo that is captioned 'Hello Iran'. She is gurning which is not a suitable demeanour for a woman in Iran.

Photos of their time in Iran showed them on walking tours of the Tabriz Bazaar, the Tower of Silence.....

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

She’s smiling.

She looks like a 7 year old who has to pull a silly face everytime you take a photo.

What I think what some people fail to realise is that, in places like Iran, being "respectful" and following "the rules" is not necessarily enough to avoid trouble. There's a lot of fear and paranoia and politics at play and it's easy to get caught up in it.

They're receiving Consular support, so I hope it works out well, but unfortunately it could be very difficult for them.

There was a window of time about a decade ago when it was suddenly deemed safe to visit. It was brief though. I wish I'd investigated further. It looks breathtakingly beautiful but is alas somewhere completely off limits.

Honestly a stupid photo they posted with the caption 'Iran is not what you think!'.

Fools.

I am sure we all know wide-eyed naive fools who think because they are good people then everyone will approach them with goodness and kindness in their hearts. And think the rest of us are just cynical. But reading about the wife's apparent aim to collect stories from people and report on them at some conference has sent a chill down my spine. Iran are hyper paranoid about spies and journalists. They are unlikely to think 'Numpties- let's release them with a flea in their ear'. I hope they get out okay but I feel genuine anger that they have put themselves into this position and now have to be rescued.

OMG How very dare she put an image thats not entirely perfect on line. Who does she think she is?
Nobody's expecting sympathy from you but is that really all you have to add?

Of course. It’s still risky and against foreign office advice to travel there regardless. But posting on social media and not being culturally aware and respectful isn’t going to help matters.

It's not one image, it's her whole Instagram.

Unfortunately it cements the idea she is a complete fool.

Comes across as patronising, arrogant and very naive. Almost everywhere you go in the world, ordinary people are kind and hospitable. To suggest it’s some kind of revelation to be shared with the world reveals their own prejudice. But the issue is the authorities.

As for conducting ‘research’ I agree that could easily be construed as spying. If you’re going to ignore Foreign Office advice, as a researcher at least do very thorough research on how to minimise risk before you set off.

You’d think a life coach would know that a good bit of life advice is to not travel to countries the Foreign Office tells you not to.

I don't think it's that kind of life coaching.....

It never ceases to amaze me, the situations people manage to get themselves into.

Like it’s quite a spectacular feat for some random middle class couple to find themselves in Iranian prison.

Several posters are missing the point that of course it's fine to be smiling and pulling faces and gurning for the camera, just not in Iran where they want women to be covered and to stare at the ground.

They will have found her public photos and believe her to be disrespecting Iran and more importantly to them, behaving in a manner that is a bad example to Iranian women.

The oppression is real and if you are seen as flaunting yourself (in their eyes) you will suffer harsh consequences!

Jolly japes do not go down well in Iran where their idea of fun is going to watch a public amputation of a thief.

"This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time. "

They appeared to think they could bike in, share pictures on fb and bike out again. Then talk about it online afterwards. Perhaps it's good they have been detained since other idiots may have followed their lead. It costs lots of money to get people out again. Costs millions for entitled people to be released.

Utter madness. I wouldn't be surprised if they also 'don't read the news because it's too negative these days'.

Several posters are missing the point that of course it's fine to be smiling and pulling faces and gurning for the camera, just not in Iran where they want women to be covered and to stare at the ground.

You're mistaken. The head covering is now enforced more, but young Iranian women are very fashionable, and skinny jeans were de rigeur when I was there eight years ago. And no they don't have to stare at the ground. This is not Afghanistan They are smiley, proud and extremely educated and confident.

I have plenty of photos of me smiling with individuals and groups of Iranian women, all beaming for the camera, too.

This woman smiling in photos will have had no bearing at all on their arrest.

@Chuchoter social media is full of Iranian women "gurning at the camera" as you so charmingly put it. The oppression of women (and men) in Iran is very real but Iranian women are not all meek little flowers living in the C16. They are also allowed to uncover their faces and even smile - the major tension with the mortality police is around wearing the hijab, a rule which many women disagree with and often flout.

I don't know why this couple were picked up any more than you do but I seriously doubt a picture of a smiling woman saying how lovely Iran is is anything to do with it. That's good pr for a regime that's trying to encourage tourism (if only for its own nefarious ends).

Oh, yes, that figures.

Incorrect: 'High Street' travel insurance won't cover Iran/Russia/other countries on the 'naughty list'. But specialist insurance is available (and the premium isn't as bad as you might think)

Idk if they were running SM travel stuff I wouldn't be surprised.

But agree mad decision