Australians detained in Evin Prison in Iran named as Perth couple Jolie King and Mark Firkin
An Aussie Instagram couple was on the trip of a lifetime. After going missing 10 weeks ago, it’s been revealed they are in a jail in Iran.
They chucked in their jobs to set out on the trip of a lifetime but now, just over two years later, it’s abruptly come to an end.
After reportedly making their way through the north of China after visiting Pakistan, Australian couple Jolie King and Mark Firkin got detained in the notorious Evin jail in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
The travel bloggers from Perth had been locked up for reportedly flying a drone, used to capture footage for their popular videos.
The pair left Perth in July 2017 in a Toyota LandCruiser bound for the UK, planning to travel for two years driving across 36 countries.
“Our biggest motivation behind making the vlogs is to hopefully inspire anyone wanting to travel, and also try to break the stigma around travelling to countries which get a bad wrap (sic) in the media,” they said in a post on crowd-funding platform Patreon.
They were reportedly arrested for flying a drone without a licence, according to Persian-language broadcaster Manato TV on Twitter.
The Times of London revealed yesterday the young British-Australian woman and her Australian partner were arrested 10 weeks ago.
Ms King and Mr Firkin have frequently used a drone in photos and videos published of their travels through Australia, Asia and the Middle East, with nearly 19,000 people following their adventures on their Instagram page.
“Our families hope to see Mark and Jolie safely home as soon as possible,” their families said in a statement today, issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“We have no further comment to make at this stage and ask that the media respects our privacy at this difficult time.”
Ms King and Mr Firkin run a YouTube channel called The Way Overland, however their last video was posted more than 11 weeks ago, in June this year, about driving through Pakistan.
Their last Instagram update on their shared account was posted on June 26.
“Apart from the massive landscape, countless horses, and a few screaming marmots we felt pretty isolated,” they said from their camp spot in Kyrgyzstan.
“The warm hospitality we received in Pakistan continued to deliver though.”
Concerned friends posted in recent weeks asking if the couple was OK.
“GUYS WHERE ARE YOU ITS BEEN A MONTH — R U OKAY???,” wrote one follower.
Another said: “You guys OK? It’s been a while!”
Several followers were worried when they didn’t hear from the couple at their next stop.
“Anyone else worried about what happened when they went to China?? It’s been over a month and Jodie said they would update us as soon as they got in!” said one man.
Another person replied: “I’m worried too, have been for a couple weeks!!! I thought they were in Iran?”
The man wrote how the couple shared in their last video that they would have to cross through the corner of China to get to Kazakhstan.
“I’ve checked everything they’re MIA,” he said, before another wrote, “Something’s definitely not right.”
Another concerned follower wrote, “What the hell is going on — these are extremely lovely people. I really hope they are fine and well.
“We check every day and have been so worried.”
One follower replied how they saw the couple were staying at their friend’s guesthouse a few weeks ago in the north of Iran.
Two weeks ago someone wrote how they’d spoken to Ms King’s mum, who said they were fine and just having internet issues.
Another British-Australian woman, an academic lecturing at a university in Australia who studied at Cambridge University, has also been detained in Evin jail.
The federal government confirmed to news.com.au yesterday that the couple had been detained.
“(DFAT) is providing consular assistance to the families of three Australians detained in Iran,” a DFAT spokesman said.
“Due to our privacy obligations, we will not comment further.”
DFAT reviewed its travel advice for Iran on Monday, adding additional information to the local travel and safety and security sections of its Smartraveller website.
However the advice level today remains at “reconsider your need to travel”.
Some parts of Iran — including border areas with Afghanistan and Iraq — are considered very high risk for travellers and considered under the “do not travel” advice level.
The website further states that Iran does not recognise dual nationality — such as Ms King’s.
“If you’re a dual Australian/Iranian national, it is highly unlikely the Australian Government would be allowed to assist if you’re arrested or detained,” it reads.
Deakin University Professor of Middle East politics Shahram Akbarzadeh said the couple were naive to fly drones and would be suspected of acting against the regime.
He said the pair were taking footage at secluded sites, which was considered highly suspicious in Iran.
“Iran authorities see a threat in every corner,” Professor Akbarzadeh told AAP on Thursday.
“What might seem like a very benign and very ordinary thing to do - using a drone for photography because you can get really nice shots - can turn into something very sinister in Iran.”
Prof Akbarzadeh said the couple may be detained indefinitely without being put before the judiciary.
Authorities scouring the footage may conclude it was innocent but others view Australia as an enemy given it is part of a US-led international coalition to stop Iran exporting oil.
“Dealing with Iran is so arbitrary and unpredictable,” Prof Akbarzadeh said.
“It is a helpless scenario, unfortunately.
“Let’s hope there’s nothing suspicious on those videos.”
Iran responded well to “the human face” so the best thing for the pair’s families to do could be appealing directly through Iran’s embassy in Canberra or even going to Iran.
But there was a risk they too could be considered suspicious and detained.
WHAT WE KNOW
* Mark Firkin and Jolie King met around 2012 and moved from NSW to Perth in 2015
* In July 2017, they embarked on a leisurely road trip to London via Asia in their converted Landcruiser
* They said on their Patreon page the “life changing adventure” was an escape from the daily corporate grind
* Mr Firkin is reportedly a construction manager while Ms King is a buildingdesigner
* They explored Western Australia’s north and the Northern Territory before starting their tour of Asia in Timor Leste
* They used ships or ferries to transport the vehicle overseas
* The plan was to go from Iran to Turkey then explore Europe before reaching England, stretching the trip out as long as possible
* They raised money to support their video production, with 92 patrons contributing almost $300 per episode
* Their Instagram page has attracted 19,300 followers while almost 2000 people follow their Facebook page
* They said on their The Way Overland website they’d post videos every week or so
* But their most recent and 60th video from Pakistan was uploaded two months ago
* They were reportedly arrested 10 weeks ago and are being detained in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran
* A permit is required to fly a drone in Iran and several strict rules must be obeyed
* Failure to obtain a permit before using a drone is punishable by six months in jail, followed by immediate deportation.
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