British tourists have been warned that Iran is not safe ‘if you have blue eyes and blonde hair’ after a couple on a tour of the country were arrested by the regime.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both 52, were arrested on unspecified ‘security-related charges’ in January during a motorcycling journey to Australia.
They had been warned not to visit Iran by the U.K. Foreign Office, which says tourists could be arrested just for ‘having a British passport or connections to the U.K.’
An Iranian government source told The Telegraph that the British couple, in their 50s, ‘weren’t arrested for committing a crime‘ but ‘likely took photos of something, which has been used as a pretext for their arrest’, seized upon by the Islamic Republic.
The source told the newspaper that the Craig and Lindsay, who had been documenting their travels on social media, were likely now being used ‘as bargaining chips’, with regime authorities ‘trying to get something from England in exchange for their release’.
‘You don’t need to commit a crime,’ the anonymous source said in a shocking admission.
‘Holding a European passport makes you a target here. If you have blue eyes and blonde hair, Iran is not safe for you, whether you’re a tourist or travelling for business.’
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were on a motorbiking trip across the globe to Australia
They had shared their trip on social media and YouTube before being arrested in January
The couple had described Iran and Pakistan as ‘one of the most challenging’ parts of the trip
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who lived in East Sussex before moving to Granada, had said ahead of their arrest that they had ‘chosen to keep moving forward’ on their grand tour in spite of Foreign Office advice.
‘Why?’ Lindsay wrote in a post on December 30, as they approached ‘one of the most challenging parts of the trip’, Iran and Pakistan.
‘Because we believe that, no matter where you are in the world, most people are good, kind humans striving for a meaningful life.’
‘Yes, we’re aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear.’
Mr and Dr Foreman only passed their bike tests last year before embarking on their round-the-world trip.
The life coach, who has a doctorate in psychology, was preparing a research project which she was to present in Brisbane at the conclusion of their trip, the BBC reports.
She was asking people at points along their trip what it means to be human and how you can live a good life.
The couple entered Iran from Armenia, to the north, around December 30, aiming to travel across the country and reach Pakistan, to the east, within five days.
They stayed in Tabriz, near the Armenian border, before travelling on to the capital, Tehran, and Isfahan.
With a tour guide they made it as far as Kerman, in central Iran, but never checked into their hotel.
Foreign Office guidance advises against all travel to Iran, where they say British nationals face the threat of arrest
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are in their early 50s, said they were putting their faith in there being ‘good, kind humans’ everywhere in the world as they entered the country from Armenia on December 30
Iranian state media finally reported last Wednesday, February 12, that a man and woman were in custody in Kerman on ‘security-related charges’, without further detail.
The family said in a statement that they Craig and Lindsay had been detained in Kerman, and that they were in touch with the British government.
‘We are actively engaging with the British government and relevant authorities, working diligently to navigate the complexities of this matter,’ the statement read.
‘The family are united in our determination to secure their safe return.’
The Foreign Office warns that people are at risk of ‘arrest, detention and a death sentence’ if they travel to Iran.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian author, was also famously arrested in Iran in 2016, and only released in 2022.
Her husband said this month that the UK government must act ‘more promptly’ to help Mr and Dr Foreman than it did to help his wife.
‘My heart goes out to them, and I hope they are not in for a long ordeal, and that the government is able to respond more promptly than it did in our case,’ he told the PA news agency.
‘I do think the risks would be a lot clearer to people if the UK travel advice to Iran talked about the risks of hostage-taking.
‘People would be more alert to the fact that it is not personal, and it doesn’t matter whether you have travelled there with a good heart.’
The Foremans had previously appeared on the Channel 4 show ‘A New Life in the Sun’, documenting their move from Sussex to a ‘breathtaking’ three-bedroom villa in Spain’s arid south.
They said they wanted to ‘really take advantage of the cheaper cost of living, the wonderful weather, lifestyle and more relaxed pace of life’.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman (both pictured) said they were putting their faith in there being ‘good, kind humans’ everywhere in the world as they entered Iran
Craig and Lindsay ignored pleas from their friends, family and the Foreign Office not to visit the nation
Foreign Office guidance advises against all travel to Iran, where they say British nationals face the threat of arrest and tensions within the Middle East could quickly escalate.
They say: ‘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.’
The department said it is in contact with Iranian authorities and providing Mr and Dr Foreman with consular support.
