British Couple detained in Iran

The Foreign Office website has tons of advice for different countries. I don't understand why more people do not read it before travelling abroad.

I need to get thinner fingers.

Sin!

Din obviously.

Rosie51

Of course they've been foolish, but from the report they'd been in several cities accompanied by a guide. On 3rd Jan they were still free, and expected to be in Pakistan by 4th January. They have taken a risk (one I never would!) but I can still feel sympathy for them, they'd reported how lovely the Iranians they'd met were.

I agree with you. Let he who is without din?

Rosie51

Even stupid people can engender sympathy. Neither this couple nor the Canadian woman have hurt anybody else. In the case of the woman and the shark, yes she made a stupid mistake, an error of judgement and she'll have to live with the consequences for the rest of her life. I feel sympathy, I've made foolish/stupid mistakes in my life, I thought everybody did to a greater or lesser degree.

Yes we all make foolish mistakes at some time or another, but as with everything there is a gradient, and some things are just so stupid, and often driven by a calm assumption by people that they are teflon coated and are untouchable. that I can feel little or no sympathy for them.

That applies to the two in Iran, and while I can sympathise with the lady in Australia about the loss her hands, a terrible punishment for what was a crassly stupid action. The action still remains crassly stupid.

How very selfish of them, the reports say British Nationals Chocolate loving. I think you have to have lived there for 5 years before applying, they haven’t

I understand that this couple have lived in Spain for some time.
If they are, now, Spanish citizens, is it not the responsibility of the Spanish authorities, rather than the British government?

I don't feel sympathy for them. They went into this, eyes wide open. Their naivety is breathtaking. No doubt the government is going to have to waste time and expense trying to sort it out.

Even stupid people can engender sympathy. Neither this couple nor the Canadian woman have hurt anybody else. In the case of the woman and the shark, yes she made a stupid mistake, an error of judgement and she'll have to live with the consequences for the rest of her life. I feel sympathy, I've made foolish/stupid mistakes in my life, I thought everybody did to a greater or lesser degree.

In the Caribbean a Canadian woman has lost an arm and a hand trying to get a selfie with a shark.

Some people should not have passports.

Rosie51 they were advised strongly not to do this by the Foreign Office, they thought they knew best, absolute stupidity and arrogance.
You can feel sympathy if you like but I will save mine fir people who deserve it.
The woman is a life coach, personally I just think she is a bloody idiot.

Of course they've been foolish, but from the report they'd been in several cities accompanied by a guide. On 3rd Jan they were still free, and expected to be in Pakistan by 4th January. They have taken a risk (one I never would!) but I can still feel sympathy for them, they'd reported how lovely the Iranians they'd met were.

I wonder if they managed to get travel insurance for this trip?

Absolutely crazy. Why would you? Seriously. Just like that woman who tempted the shark towards her, it attacked and bit her hands off. Some things you just don’t do. Utter madness.

This is at the top of the foreign office travel advice page for Iran:
“FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.”

It’s difficult to have sympathy for people who still go there. Foolhardy in the extreme. Some people think rainbows and unicorns will get them through life.

They probably thought they were 'different' and with their deep knowledge of humanity would make it through.

Idiots like this always do think like that. Then the foreign Office has to spend time and money getting them out. Still a couple of weeks (if they are lucky) or possibly a couple of years in an Iranian prison will soon make them realis the stupidity of their behaviour.

Yes! I read about the warnings from The FO, they don't give such directives for nothing, ignore them at your peril. I think they've been foolish. This is a hardline regime and take western hostages as collateral.

I find it odd that a couple in their fifties would be going on a motorcycle into countries like Iran doing some kind of psychology project. I know some people have been on a trip that includes Iran, but they organise this with a guide approved by the regime in Iran, Joanna Lumley visited a few short years ago, I imagine she had a guide with her, and when Simon Reeve visits dangerous destinations he has an approved guide.
Stupid to not do this through the proper channels.

The woman is a life coach, hopefully when she eventually escapes she won't be giving her clients travel advice.

Our son was working in India for a charity, there was a murder in a neighbouring town, our son and a colleague were sent 10 hours away to Bangalore until the dust had settled.

They were told if they had stayed despite being clearly innocent they would have been held in prison until a “fee” had been paid for their release.

I’m sure this is a similar case, I do however agree it was a very foolhardy thing to do.

Against Foreign Office advice. The world is not your playground.

Strange decision by this couple. 🤷‍♀️

I dare say they’ll have plenty of time to ponder their daftness in an Iranian jail.