[Craig]

TWO BRITISH CITIZENS ARE IN-CUSTODY IN IRAN — FACING ESPIONAGE CHARGES AFTER AN ADVENTURE ON THEIR MOTORCYCLES, HAS NOW TURNED INTO AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT. CRAIG AND LINDSAY FOREMAN CROSSED THE IRANIAN BORDER WITH ARMENIA IN LATE DECEMBER AND WERE HOPING TO MAKE IT TO PAKISTAN. THE IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD DETAINED THEM IN EARLY JANUARY IN THE CITY OF KERMAN, WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY BEING HELD.
ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM THE COUNTRY’S JUDICIARY, QUOTE “ THE INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED ENTERED THE COUNTRY UNDER THE GUISE OF TOURISTS AND,(PAUSE) UNDER THE GUISE OF RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION WORK, HAVE COLLECTED INFORMATION IN SEVERAL PROVINCES OF THE COUNTRY. “
THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT FURTHER ALLEGES THAT THE FOREMANS WERE DOING INTELLIGENCE WORK FOR COVERT INSTITUTIONS OF WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT ARE HOSTILE TO IRAN.
THE WEBSITE “THE INDEPENDENT” SAYS THE COUPLE ARE IN THEIR 50’S AND HAD SET OUT ON THEIR MOTORCYCLES, ON A PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT TO FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE “ A GOOD LIFE”. THEIR ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO MAKE IT TO AUSTRALIA.
LINDSAY FOREMAN HAD POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE THE TRIP THAT QUOTE “ WE BELIEVE THAT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD, KIND HUMANS STRIVING FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE. “ SHE SAYS THEY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR A ** ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP** AT A CONFERENCE ON POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. THE COUPLE THEN GOT THEIR MOTORCYCLE LICENSES IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.
SHE POSTED THAT “FROM THE VAST DESERTS OF IRAN TO THE TOWERING PEAKS OF PAKISTAN, WE HOPE TO SHARE THE BEAUTY, HOSPITALITY AND HUMANITY THAT OFTEN GO UNNOTICED. “ LINDSAY FOREMAN ALSO SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE RISKS.
THE BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE SAID THIS WEEK IT IS DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE REPORTS OF THEIR DETAINMENT, AND THE FOREIGN OFFICE HAS RAISED THE FOREMAN’S CASE DIRECTLY WITH THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT. IT ALSO SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS HAVE ACCUSED IRAN OF TAKING WESTERNERS HOSTAGE AND USING THOSE ARRESTS AS LEVERAGE TO WIN CONCESSIONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. IRAN HAS DENIED THOSE ACCUSATIONS BUT IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE BRITISH COUPLE FROM HERE. FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP