Two British citizens detained in Iran have been charged with espionage, after they allegedly gathered information in different parts of the country, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency reported on Tuesday.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were heading to Australia on a motorcycling trip around the world and had planned to be in Iran for only five days when they were detained last month for unspecified security offences, Iranian state media reported.
“The detained individuals entered the country as tourists and collected information in several provinces of the country,” Mizan said, without giving further details.
A statement issued by the UK Foreign Office on the family's behalf said: “This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time.
“We are actively engaging with the British government and relevant authorities. The family are united in our determination to secure their safe return.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said the government would "continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities".
Iranian state media reported last week that two nationals were being held in Kerman and published photos of the couple, with their faces blurred, meeting the British ambassador in the south-eastern city, before confirming their identities days later.
The UK government is advising British and British-Iranian dual citizens against travelling to the country. It says they are “at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention”.
Human rights organisations and European countries have accused Iran of holding Europeans in custody in an attempt to be granted concessions from their nations. Tehran has denied these accusations.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of NGO Iran Human Rights, told The National that “the charges seem to be part of the Islamic Republic’s hostage diplomacy".
“Essentially, they arrest western citizens and impose serious charges in order to use them as bargaining chips,” Mr Amiry-Moghaddam said. “This policy has been successful from the Islamic Republic’s perspective, as the West has consistently responded by giving the regime what it asks for.
“For instance, western hostages have been exchanged for the release of Hamid Nouri and Assadollah Assadi, who were sentenced to serious charges of war crimes and terrorism by Sweden and Belgium [respectively].
“As long as such hostage diplomacy remains profitable for the Islamic Republic, they will continue to employ it. To prevent this from happening, western countries need to adopt a united and firm policy. The first step is to call it what it is – hostage-taking.”
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
