10 year sentence for Lindsay and Craig Foreman.

Allira

I've never been to Bognor.
Is it really, really dangerous?

I'm surprised you mentioned pigeons, Plevey, it's usually the seagulls which are dangerous.

Spent a few childhood bucket and spade beach holidays there. It was safe back then but who knows today, maybe they have got mutant pigeons replacing the seagulls?

FranP

No, there have been a few plane spotters who have been detained for taking photographs of aircraft in foreign countries.

Eg Conrad Clitheroe, Gary Cooper, and Neil Munro (2015): detained but released without charge in the UAE..

FranP

Am I right, that these were the idiots photographing an airfield?? Not just "travelling through". No wonder....

Are you conflating this with an elderly couple in Afghanistan, released after 7? months in jail without being charged with anything. He was 80 and they had lived there for 2 decades?

I’m with the majority in finding it impossible to feel sympathy for these two. Arrogant, idiotic, selfish and more. The FO isn’t onky covering its back Plevey08, it’s giving appropriate advice.

Sago

Plevey08

So you've made perfect decisions all your life.? They're human. At least they had the courage to do something they believed in. Stay at home if you want....but let others choose and not live in fear. As for the FO you wouldn't go anywhere if you followed their advice. They're just covering their arses...and ho keep us all in our little places.

I hear North Korea’s nice at this time of year.

Chilly but sunnier than the UK. 🌞
I hear tourism has recommenced, Plevey08.

Plevey08

So you've made perfect decisions all your life.? They're human. At least they had the courage to do something they believed in. Stay at home if you want....but let others choose and not live in fear. As for the FO you wouldn't go anywhere if you followed their advice. They're just covering their arses...and ho keep us all in our little places.

I hear North Korea’s nice at this time of year.

I've never been to Bognor.
Is it really, really dangerous?

I'm surprised you mentioned pigeons, Plevey, it's usually the seagulls which are dangerous.

BlueBelle

Plevey08 that’s a really daft answer and very disrespectful
I bet many on here, myself included, have been to many unusual countries, perhaps more than you, but I would NEVER go against advice especially if you ve had the information about others plight who have been there before.

I like to hear others opinions but disrespect is just nasty and unnecessary

Thanks, Bluebelle

As someone whose DH was in HM Forces and who, myself, has travelled to places which might be less than desirable, it was an extremely rude comment. The thing is, I might have been adventurous but not, I hope, absolutely stupid and disregarding the advice of the Foreign Office.

I have met a couple who were asked by a charity to visit a country which was undergoing troubled times. It was dangerous but I'm not sure if it was against FO advice at the time. They were captured and had a terrible time in captivity. Well-meaning but not as stupid as the two now imprisoned in Iran.

SunnySusie

No sympathy for these two at all. Indeed it makes me angry that they thought they were above the FO guidance which is produced to ensure the safety of UK citizens abroad. No doubt they are now going to cost the taxpayer since they can hardly be left to rot in an Iranian jail.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (dual British national) was held in Iran for six years on "spying" charges. In Evin, the same prison as the Foremans.

Plevey, some of us have been a little further than Bognor ( patronising much?) but are mindful of how regimes in other countries might behave.
For example, I have been in Russia, but I understand that the travel industry has collapsed there, and the atmosphere could be less welcoming.
Similarly, I loved my time in Cuba, but recent times have not been kind to that country, with desperate poverty and lawlessness have made it far less safe for visitors.
I think that is sensible to not put yourself, or others, at risk.

Fallingstar

Btw don’t suppose they were spies, if they were they were extremely bad at it.

Every country, including our own, has places where for sensitive/ security reasons, it's best not to hang around filming or taking photos.

Iran is well known to be hypervigilant / intolerant of any perceived interference or threat

To go to Iran videoing locals answering what LF claims are "psychological research questions" just beggars belief. Iran no doubt sees them as political stirring. She asked

" What does living a good life mean to you? What intentional activity has made the greatest impact on your life? What intentional activity do you think would make the biggest impact on your community? ".

Presumably the Iranian " guide" acted as translator.

Plevey08 that’s a really daft answer and very disrespectful
I bet many on here, myself included, have been to many unusual countries, perhaps more than you, but I would NEVER go against advice especially if you ve had the information about others plight who have been there before.

I like to hear others opinions but disrespect is just nasty and unnecessary

I actually saw a clip of their prior journey. Sadly, they appeared to be aware of the risk, but appeared to ignore the advice. Sadly, for their family, and country they could be used as , dare I say it 'bargaining tools' for future negotiation. So heed the advice when travelling abroad. Let's hope they are being well cared for. God bless.

Well Allira....I think you best stick to a day trip to Bognor Regis....watch out for the pigeons though, they don't only nick your chips, they might peck off your nose. Best check FO first or HO as they might advise against it 😃

I agree yes , stupid beyond belief!!!!
That being said their stupidity does not warrant their punishment!!!!
They do not deserve this even though it is entirely their own fault.

Btw don’t suppose they were spies, if they were they were extremely bad at it.

Plevey08
I have made mistakes, am not perfect, but thank God I have never put the lives of other innocent people at risk by my rash actions.
Who knows what will have happened to those Iranians who associated with this couple, or the guide they probably employed?
I dread to think.

JaneJudge

The article I read said they have Iran visas and a guide. By a guide, that would mean a person? were they arrested too?

here he is

www.youtube.com/shorts/eZa5LuqLSi8

Note his comments about his parents.

So you've made perfect decisions all your life.?

The converse of making utterly stupid and reckless decisions, probably putting others' lives at risk too, is not making perfect decisions all your life.
That is just a silly remark.

So you've made perfect decisions all your life.? They're human. At least they had the courage to do something they believed in. Stay at home if you want....but let others choose and not live in fear. As for the FO you wouldn't go anywhere if you followed their advice. They're just covering their arses...and ho keep us all in our little places.

We know it is a barbaric regime.
We know what is happening there.

We would not ignore FO advice and think we could go there and remained invisible to the authorities.
That poor couple thought they knew better and were somehow immune.

My goodness...have some pity! Arrogance and £££ is all you're talking about. Nasty. Let's hope nothing st horrific happens to you. That poor couple will likely be locked up in horrendous conditions for a long time, whilst that merciless brutal regime will politicise the situation. We should be fighting against barbaric regimes like this. The desperate people in Iran have found the courage to demonstrate against the leadership recently. Most were killed or locked away with great brutality.

Arrogant. Stupid. Entitled. And entirely deserving of their fate.
I'm sorry for their son that he has such selfish nincompoops for parents but, other than that, I have zero sympathy.
I don't want Yvette Cooper, her junior ministets or civil servants to waste a moment of their time or a penny of taxpayers' money on attempts to free the Foremans or reduce their sentences. Let them do the full 10 years; it'll give them time to reflect on their own selfish stupidity.

We seem to be unanimous!

I agree with everything others have posted. They are stupid, arrogant and should have realised that if the FO gives a warning not to travel there, it should be heeded. Even common sense would tell you it would be a very foolish thing to do, let alone go round trying to interview the citizens there.

The case of the Reynolds couple, detained in Afghanistan, was different because they had been charity workers therd for years and had received a "certificate of appreciation" from the Taliban after they regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
They have since been released, thankfully.

Some people are entitled enough to think they can go anywhere in the world, no questions asked. Iran is not on the tourist trail for obvious reasons yet they chose to ignore warnings and do something utterly ridiculous without any thought for innocent Iranians whom they might have befriended, one of which could have been their guide, who are probably also in jail now.
Reminds of those stupid people who try to climb a mountain in a blizzard wearing silly shoes and with no suitable clothing, putting rescue services at risk.