British couple detained in Iran in ‘distressing situation’, family says
Foreign traffic correspondent
Ministry of Foreign AffairsA British couple’s family detained in Iran, named Craig and Lindsay Foreman, said they were united and determined to ensure a “safe return.”
The couple traveled on motorcycles in their 50s and were arrested in January But the news came out Thursday When state-owned Iranian media reported that they were held on unspecified security charges.
Photos of the couple were published, their faces blurred, and they met with British ambassador Hugo Short in Kerrman’s prosecutor’s office.
“This unexpected incident has attracted significant attention from our entire family and we are very focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this difficult time,” a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said.
It added: “We are actively interacting with the UK government and relevant authorities in an effort to address the complexity of this issue. This family is united and we are determined to ensure their safe reward.”
The family said, “The emotional burden of this situation has seriously affected us,” adding: “The pouring of support from friends, family and community “provides us with strength and encouragement” when we face this suffering.
Mr. Foreman and his wife are heading to Australia on a global journey.
They crossed Iran from Armenia on December 30 and are scheduled to be in Pakistan on January 4.
Accompanied by a tour guide, after staying in the city of Tabriz, Tehran and Isfahan, they head to Kerman but never checked into their hotel.
In a series of social media posts, the couple described their joy in Iran.
Lindsay Foreman, a life coach with a PhD in psychology, said she “had a great time.”
Her husband, Craig, is a carpenter, talks about the “lovely people” of a “lovely country”,
Mrs. Foreman posted a photo of herself on January 3, meeting a pastor in the town of Isfahan. “Travel continues to tell me that the heart of humanity is sharing: kindness, humility and respect for each other,” she wrote on Instagram.
On Facebook that day, she wrote: “Although culture, language and tradition are different, we see something very common: kindness, humor, hospitality – and a shared love for food!”
Iranian authorities did not say what the couple was charged.
They have moved from East Sussex to 2019 to start a new life in Andalucia, Spain.
Mrs. Foreman has been reportedly working on a research project to ask about their journey to Australia, what it means to be human and what it means to make up a good life.
She was supposed to present her findings at a conference on positive psychology in Brisbane in July.
She posted on Instagram, she acknowledged that the advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs traveled to Iran, Pakistan was risky and “somewhatful.”
“Yes, we know the risks,” she wrote. “But we also know that meeting incredible people, hearing their stories and seeing the magnificent landscape of these areas may be far more than fear.”
She added: “From the vast desert of Iran to the towering peaks of Pakistan, we want to share the beauty, hospitality and humanity that we often don’t notice.”
The Foreign Ministry said it is contacting local authorities in Iran and providing consular assistance to the couple.
Currently, it advises British nationals to avoid all travel to Iran.
“Dual British and British nationals face significant risks of arrest, challenge or detention,” the suggestion said. “Having a British passport or ties to the UK may be the reason why Iranian authorities detain you.”
Dozens of foreign and dual nationals have been arrested in Iran over the past few years on vague security-related charges.
Human rights groups say Iranian authorities often use them for political leverage.
