Arrest of Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray

Last updated

In July 2023, New Zealand social media influencers Topher Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray were arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) while visiting the country as tourists. They were detained in Iran for four months before being released. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Background and arrests

Richwhite and Thrackwray married in early 2022 on the Great Mercury Island. Following their marriage, the two planned to travel to multiple countries, beginning in Europe and later going on to the Arabian Desert. [4] [5] In July 2023, after traveling to Iran, the couple were detained and questioned by immigration officers for bringing a sanctioned vehicle into the country. Shortly thereafter, the two stopped updating their social media accounts, including their Instagram page with nearly 300,000 followers. [6] [7] [8] Their final post was of an Iranian flag: “Ready for Iran,” the caption says. [9] [10] [11]

Released

In November 2023, Richwhite and Thrackwray were allowed to leave Iran. [12] [13] [14] After their release, they issued a statement:

"We are safe and well, however we would ask for privacy for ourselves and our families over the coming days while we collect our bearings and enjoy being reunited with our families." [15] [16] [17]

Reactions

Following the couple's detainment, foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta asked New Zealand travellers to leave Iran and to avoid travel there, saying that:

“due to the potential for violent civil unrest, the risk of arrest or detention and the volatile security situation in the region, the risk to safety in Iran is significant.” [18] [19] [20]

Golriz Gahraman, an Iranian-born representative of the Green Party in the New Zealand Parliament, defended the protesters in a meeting with the ambassador of the Islamic Republic. [21] [22] [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

Air New Zealand Limited is the flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 30 international destinations in 18 countries, primarily within the Pacific Rim. The airline has been a member of the Star Alliance since 1999.

Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Limited, was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–New Zealand relations</span> Bilateral relations

Foreign relations between neighbouring countries Australia and New Zealand, also referred to as Trans-Tasman relations, are extremely close. Both countries share a British colonial heritage as antipodean Dominions and settler colonies, and both are part of the core Anglosphere. New Zealand sent representatives to the constitutional conventions which led to the uniting of the six Australian colonies but opted not to join. In the Boer War and in both world wars, New Zealand soldiers fought alongside Australian soldiers. In recent years the Closer Economic Relations free trade agreement and its predecessors have inspired ever-converging economic integration. Despite some shared similarities, the cultures of Australia and New Zealand also have their own sets of differences and there are sometimes differences of opinion which some have declared as symptomatic of sibling rivalry. This often centres upon sports and in commercio-economic tensions, such as those arising from the failure of Ansett Australia and those engendered by the formerly long-standing Australian ban on New Zealand apple imports.

Refugees in New Zealand have two main pathways for gaining protection in the country. Asylum seekers may seek protection after arrival in New Zealand. Refugees may also be resettled from offshore through New Zealand's Refugee Quota Programme. In 2017/18 a community sponsorship pathway was trialled, extended from 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public transport in Auckland</span> Information about public transit in Auckland

Public transport in Auckland, the largest metropolitan area of New Zealand, consists of three modes: bus, train and ferry. Services are coordinated by Auckland Transport (AT) under the AT and AT Metro brands. Waitematā railway station is the main transport hub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisa Wall</span> New Zealand Member of Parliament

Louisa Hareruia Wall is a New Zealand former double international sportswoman, former politician, and human rights advocate. She represented New Zealand in both netball as a Silver Fern from 1989 to 1992 and in rugby union as a member of the Black Ferns from 1995 to 2001, including as a member of the 1991 World Netball Championships runner-up team and 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup winning team.

Visa requirements for New Zealand citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon O'Connor</span> New Zealand politician

Simon David O'Connor is a New Zealand politician and a former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives for the National Party. He represented the Tāmaki electorate from 2011 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicola Willis</span> New Zealand politician

Nicola Valentine Willis is Deputy Leader of the National Party and Minister of Finance in a Coalition Government with ACT and New Zealand First. Willis entered the New Zealand Parliament in 2018, when she inherited Steven Joyce's seat in Parliament as the next on the party list after his retirement from politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand</span> Government of New Zealand (2017–2023)

The Sixth Labour Government governed New Zealand from 26 October 2017 to 27 November 2023. It was headed first by Jacinda Ardern and later by Chris Hipkins, as Labour Party leader and prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Luxon</span> Prime Minister of New Zealand since 2023

Christopher Mark Luxon is a New Zealand politician and former business executive who has served as the 42nd prime minister of New Zealand since November 2023. He served as leader of the Opposition from 2021 to 2023. Luxon became member of Parliament (MP) for Botany in 2020. He had previously been the chief executive officer (CEO) of Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first case of the disease in New Zealand was reported on 28 February 2020. The country recorded over 2,274,370 cases. Over 3,000 people died as a result of the pandemic, with cases recorded in all twenty district health board (DHB) areas. The pandemic first peaked in early April 2020, with 89 new cases recorded per day and 929 active cases. Cases peaked again in October 2021 with 134 new cases reported on 22 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 managed isolation in New Zealand</span> New Zealand quarantine system for COVID-19

Managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) was a quarantine system implemented by the New Zealand Government during the country's COVID-19 pandemic. Under the system, people entering New Zealand, COVID-19 positive cases and some of their close contacts were required to isolate at an MIQ facility for 14 days. Compulsory managed isolation and quarantine was announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the 1pm press conference on 9 April 2020, with the system coming into effect for people boarding flights to New Zealand from midnight that day. The government contracted dozens of hotels in five cities that were exclusively used as managed isolation facilities. The task was organised by the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) unit, part of the COVID-19 All-of-Government Response Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand government response to the COVID-19 pandemic</span> Overview of NZ government response to Covid-19

The New Zealand Government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand in various ways. In early February 2020, the Government imposed travel restrictions on China in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic originating in Wuhan and also repatriated citizens and residents from Wuhan. Following the country's first case which originated in Iran, the Government imposed travel restrictions on Iran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand</span>

The global COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the New Zealand economy. New Zealand has a mixed economy – a free market with some state ownership and control. In mid-March 2020, the New Zealand Government imposed a four-tier alert level system, which placed much of the country's economy into lockdown with the exception of "essential services" such as supermarkets. Due to the success of the Government's elimination strategy, lockdown restrictions on various economic activities were progressively lifted between April and June 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Rock</span> New Zealand YouTube personality and blogger

Karl Edward Rice, known online as Karl Rock, is a New Zealand blogger and YouTuber based in India. He is best known for his vlogs, which are centred around his travels in the Indian subcontinent, and his book How to Travel in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand has had far-reaching consequences on the country that went beyond the spread of the disease itself and efforts to eliminate it, including education, faith communities, Māori, mass gatherings, sports, recreation, and travel. In addition, there were several recorded cases of lockdown violations, leaks, and misinformation about the COVID-19 virus and vaccines.

Charlotte Bellis is a New Zealand journalist who previously reported for Al Jazeera. Bellis attracted media attention in August 2021 after interviewing a senior Taliban leader Abdul Qahar Balkhi following the fall of Kabul. In early 2022, Bellis attracted media attention in New Zealand and abroad after highlighting her difficulty in returning home due to the country's tough COVID-19 border restrictions.

Jolie King, a British Australian, and Mark Firkin, an Australian, are a couple living in Perth, Australia. Online travel bloggers who have documented their experiences on social media since 2017, they are best known for being arrested in Iran in July, 2019.

References

  1. ↑ "Iran allows detained New Zealand social media influencers to leave". CNN. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  2. ↑ Sydney, Bernard Lagan (26 April 2024). "Iran releases New Zealand travel bloggers after four months in captivity". The Times. ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ↑ McClure, Tess (26 October 2022). "New Zealand influencers detained in Iran 'extremely relieved' to be home". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Spy: A baby, new business and 'bunker-style structure' after Kiwi couple detained in Iran". NZ Herald. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Kiwis missing in Iran for months now safe and well". Otago Daily Times Online News. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "New Zealand Instagram couple 'relieved' after leaving Iran". BBC. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Getting a free ride through life on social media". Otago Daily Times Online News. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "A New Zealand influencer couple detained in Iran for nearly 4 months was finally allowed to leave the country". Yahoo News. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  9. ↑ MacDiarmid, Campbell (26 October 2022). "Travel influencers who tried to blog in Iranian restricted zone released from jail". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Leighton, Mara (26 October 2022). "A New Zealand influencer couple detained in Iran for nearly 4 months was finally allowed to leave the country". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  11. ↑ "Incredible twist four months after NZ couple vanish on trip: 'Strange'". Yahoo News. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "Kiwi rich lister's son and wife leave Iran 'safe and well' after being detained for months – MFAT". Newshub. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand social media influencers detained in Iran finally allowed to leave". The Independent. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "New Zealand couple held in Iran allowed to leave, PM Ardern says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  15. ↑ "NZ influencer couple missing in Iran for four months, now released". NZ Herald. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "New Zealand influencers relieved after being released from detention in Iran". Al Arabiya. 27 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "New Zealand travel blogger couple leave Iran 'safe and well' after months of silence". gulfnews.com. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  18. ↑ McClure, Tess (25 October 2022). "New Zealand couple detained in Iran for months leave the country". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "You never get out: Memories of two psychiatric hospitals". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 39 (3). RNZ: 296–297. 26 October 2022. doi:10.1111/1753-6405.12394. ISSN   1326-0200.
  20. ↑ "New Zealand Travel Bloggers Allowed to Leave Iran". Voice of America. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  21. ↑ "MPs grill Iran's ambassador on formerly detained Kiwis, protests". 1News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "MPs confront Iran's Ambassador to New Zealand over protest crackdowns". RNZ. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "'Say sorry': Act stonewalls unified message against Iran unless Green MP apologises". NZ Herald. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.