British biking couple arrested in Iran

[IndigoJo]

A British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, travelling across the world by motorbike have been arrested in Iran:

 

British couple held in Iran named as family urge safe return https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c626p6pz7xlo

 

I've seen a couple of YouTube bikers travel through Iran (Itchy Boots most recently), but if you're British you're liable to be arrested on trumped-up charges and held hostage.

[Simon Davey]

Why go though? 

I wouldn't say "you'd be asking for trouble", but knowing that you're putting yourself in such danger is crazy. 

Edited February 15 by Simon Davey

[S-Westerly]

I'm with you SD. Too many people think that if they are all warm and fluffy to everyone then it'll be reciprocated.  Unfortunately there are countries where although the ordinary people may well be the government is a bunch of thugs so you are putting a target on your back. I've had issues with Iran for years for personal reasons and my company doesn't allow any of our ships to go there since they highjacked one of our ships.

[bud]

Yes I'm pretty sure Iran wouldn't be on the government list of safe countries to visit. So you have to go knowing you could be at possible risk.

My mate toured some  of the worst parts of Africa in the 80's when it was a very dangerous place even for locals. It turned out okay. But he came back with some scary stories. I guess it's something that you have to want to experience.

[Capt Sisko]

The .Gov advice is not to go to Iran and in the BBC TV News article I watched about it they mentioned that simply having a British passport can be enough to get you detained. With what's going on in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Gaza, the whole area ought to be out of bounds to a sensible traveler. It might be a long way out of your way, but ferries, train and other routes are usually available to avoid these hot spot.

Edited February 15 by Capt Sisko

[Mickly]

Oh so it’s their own fault, not that of a bunch of Religious Zealot Pig f**king Iranian Nut Jobs who misguidedly think they have big balls ?

[Bender]

I have no sympathy, I read it somewhere else, I especially thought you absolute plonkers where they said In a completely unforeseen turn of events, really how fecking unforseen and by who.

 

Next up will be a crowd funding page because the cats need feeding back home.

 

Some people's lack of common sense is bewildering 

[Capt Sisko]

4 minutes ago, Mickly said:

Oh so it’s their own fault, not that of a bunch of............

I see where you're coming from, but the real world ain't a level playing field of democracy, tolerance and the freedom we enjoy in our corner of Europe. Travel out of that bubble and you're dealing with different rules, values and attitudes. Iran is one of those places and the Foreign Office advise is very clear; it advises against all travel to Iran.

[Bender]

31 minutes ago, Mickly said:

Oh so it’s their own fault, not that of a bunch of Religious Zealot Pig f**king Iranian Nut Jobs who misguidedly think they have big balls ?

Yes

You can go play with sharks in shallow water and try to engage with them just like the woman from Canada but you can't blame the shark when it bites both your hands off, which it did.

 

Iran has history's of detention and bargaining using people as the chips, Nazanin ratcliffe was in the news and detained for 6 yrs, the regime is morally bankrupt and don't give a stuff what they do, if you choose to ignore a travel ban then unfortunately your at fault as the country was like that before you set off and they knew it and said the risk was outweighed by the gains, well that turned out not to be the case.

 

Hopefully they will take them to the border and say look we are a nice progressive regime, worst case is they trump up security charges and say they were spys.

[S-Westerly]

28 minutes ago, Mickly said:

Oh so it’s their own fault, not that of a bunch of Religious Zealot Pig f**king Iranian Nut Jobs who misguidedly think they have big balls ?

No it's the Iranians fault but if you voluntarily put yourself in their hands it's a bit like choosing to grab a live wire. There will be consequences. 

[Gerontious]

EU passport. Doesn’t matter which country… though for Brits the easiest is the Irish (if you are eligible) and if you need to use a British number plate. Take a show plate with you..  have one made to order in white and add the EU identifier. Change over the plate before you cross the border out of the EU.

 

This has been pretty much the standard advice for years… more than 20 years for anyone wanting to visit Iran and various other countries like the ‘Stans. Former soviet republics. Aside from Turkmenistan. (Don’t even try)

 

if you can’t do that. Don’t go to Iran as an independent traveller it’s simply not worth the risk.

 

i have zero sympathy. Researching these “risky” countries is quite simple. I guess they either didn’t bother or thought this wouldn’t apply to them.

 

now they are finding out what it is to be a pawn.

[Davidtav]

I’ve been watching Itchy Boots. And have been amazed how positive her experiences recently travelling through Iran and Iraq have been. Can’t help wondering though if she had either a UK or American passport if that would still be the case. 

[Capt Sisko]

4 hours ago, Davidtav said:

I’ve been watching Itchy Boots.

Possibly not to the brightest of ideas to go around videoing in a country with an oppressive regime. To us spying is secret agents meeting contacts hand over secret tapes, maybe bugs, surveillance or other dirty tricks. To Iran it's writing home to mum describing how your day went at work, let alone posting the aforementioned videos on social media.

Edited February 16 by Capt Sisko

[IndigoJo]

4 hours ago, Capt Sisko said:

Possibly not to the brightest of ideas to go around videoing in a country with an oppressive regime. To us spying is secret agents meeting contacts hand over secret tapes, maybe bugs, surveillance or other dirty tricks. To Iran it's writing home to mum describing how your day went at work, let alone posting the aforementioned videos on social media.

I remember reading that in the early days of Taiwan's separation from China, you could not watch birds with binoculars in the countryside because the activity was assumed to be spying. Not sure if Iran is quite that extreme but its regime certainly is paranoid and thuggish. That said, they have good relations with some European countries and this may include the Netherlands, which is why the Itchy Boots lady was able get out safely. It certainly doesn't include the UK.

[Bender]

Some of the travel advice from that article 

 

British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention," advice says. "Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."

 

 

 

Seeing as they have moved to Spain and been living there since 2019 what's the EU and Spain doing about it 

[IndigoJo]

36 minutes ago, Bender said:

Some of the travel advice from that article 

 

British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention," advice says. "Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."

 

 

 

Seeing as they have moved to Spain and been living there since 2019 what's the EU and Spain doing about it 

 

My guess is that as they were British citizens and not Spanish, it is the British government's responsibility (and definitely not the EU's unless they also have an EU member state's passport). If they were Spanish, the problem would likely not have arisen.

[Bender]

1 hour ago, IndigoJo said:

 

My guess is that as they were British citizens and not Spanish, it is the British government's responsibility (and definitely not the EU's unless they also have an EU member state's passport). If they were Spanish, the problem would likely not have arisen.

They were British but had moved to and were living in Spain since 2019 not sure how residency works but you would think they would have a dual nationality or at least gained an EU passport before planning this considering the advice for travelling on a British passport.

 

Or they just thought Iranian gov and regime were nice and fluffy and not like they are portrayed.

 

I will add the Iranian s that I have met have been lovely and every single one of them hates the regime.

[Old-codger]

I do wonder of the sheer stupidity of people sometimes, Have they had their head in a bucket for the last fourty years and not seen any decent news outlets reporting on those nice people running Iran. I have no sympathy for them, they got themselves in the shit it is not our problem to get them out. They are just a bargaining chip now so could be there for years.

[Bender]

2 minutes ago, Old-codger said:

I do wonder of the sheer stupidity of people sometimes, Have they had their head in a bucket for the last fourty years and not seen any decent news outlets reporting on those nice people running Iran. I have no sympathy for them, they got themselves in the shit it is not our problem to get them out. They are just a bargaining chip now so could be there for years.

Unspecified security issues IE they making it up as they go along and are just wondering how much they can get for them.

[S-Westerly]

18 hours ago, IndigoJo said:

 

My guess is that as they were British citizens and not Spanish, it is the British government's responsibility (and definitely not the EU's unless they also have an EU member state's passport). If they were Spanish, the problem would likely not have arisen.

Don't count on it. Recently the Iranians have detained French, Italian and Canadian citizens so they are equal opportunity ar*eholes.

[Terry Came]

The Iranians have just suffered a major defeat at the hands of Israel with the actions against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and with what has happened in Syria. All Europeans and Americans are fair game. They feel they need to do  something to regain some honour or respect. It is foolish to disregard the advise of the Foreign Office in these circumstances. Should they be able to ride around the world? In an ideal world, yes. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world. 

[Bender]

They have been charged with espionage, I don't fancy their chances of a not guilty verdict.

[S-Westerly]

That's the standard thing in Iran.  Just about anything justifies that charge as its impossible there to prove innocence. What were they thinking?!

[husoi]

That's the main reason I never applied for UK citizenship.

One of the most dangerous passports to have abroad in countries that don't really like Brits

[Simon Davey]

1 hour ago, husoi said:

That's the main reason I never applied for UK citizenship.

One of the most dangerous passports to have abroad in countries that don't really like Brits

 

Which is most countries.....