Australia: Blogger, fiance return home after 3-month detention in Iran

An Australian-British blogger Jolie King and her fiance Mark Firkin were reportedly released by the Iranian officials on October 5 after being detained for 3 months in the country. The couple were held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison over charges of flying a drone near a military zone in Iran without a license. They returned to Australia after all charges against them were dropped. The duo are travel bloggers who were driving around the world in their house on wheels and filming their journey along the way. For two years they have been documenting their travels on Instagram and YouTube. 

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The blogger's reaction to the release

The blogger and her fiance said on Saturday that they were very happy to be released. They are now back in Australia and safe with their family and close ones, they said. They further expressed their gratitude to the Australian Government for helping secure their release. Iran continues to maintain silence on the issue, as per Australian media. Reportedly, even officials did not acknowledge the couple's release. Following the release, they have requested the media to respect their privacy. They need to get back to normal lives, they said.

Speaking about their time in the prison, the couple said, "While the past few months have been very difficult, we know it has also been tough for those back home who have been worried for us". 

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A third Australian still detained in Iran

They added that there are many like them who are detained in Iran including a fellow Australian. Yet media is not covering the issue, they blamed. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Marise Payne told the media that the Australian government is also trying to get the other citizen, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who is a lecturer from Melbourne University, released. The lecturer has been detained since October 2018 in Iran. The Minister described her situation as "very complex". Yet the Government has not accepted spying charges against her, she added.

"She has been detained for some considerable time, and has faced the Iranian legal system and has been convicted and sentenced," Payne said.

(With inputs from Associated Press)

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