Iraqi getaway
The recent news coverage of the three American hikers detained in Iran since 2009 raises important questions about ‘danger tourism’ and its role in foreign policy. The hikers’ trip to mountainous northern Iraq took an unpleasant turn when they wandered into Iran and were promptly accused of espionage by the Iranian government.
Media response to the event has been generally sympathetic to the hikers. But maybe they shouldn’t get off so easily. Consider their vacation destination. Kurdistan has many features that make it attractive for adventure tourism: it’s isolated, unconventional, and thrillingly dangerous. But there are many other destinations that meet similar criteria and are far less politically sensitive.
So why Kurdistan, and why the border region? Is it such a unique and lovely place that the hikers had to go there specifically? It was most likely chosen because of its political instability, not in spite of it. The State Department makes it very clear that travel to Iraq is inherently risky. It’s even reasonable to assume that hiking in Kurdistan is politically dangerous. Considering these travelers were appropriately warned, to what extent is the government obligated to protect them?
While hikers have the right to travel where they wish, their border blunder has generated a great deal of unnecessary political friction. It’s unclear why the government should go out of its way to help citizens who’ve potentially compromised foreign policy in an already problematic region for the sake of recreation. If they’re not spies, as they claim, why not encourage them to stand trial in Iran?
Of course, we should condemn Iran for holding the hikers without one for so long. And while the hikers are predominantly responsible for this situation, Iran’s carelessness is equally absurd. If the Iranian government lacks the resources or the desire to properly secure its borders, it has no business detaining harmlessly grazing tourists. Iran should undoubtedly be censured for arresting people who in all likelihood crossed an unmarked border.
No matter who is to blame, attempting to arrange their release could further damage our policy interests, and we don’t owe these hikers any special favors. Their holiday was ill-conceived, and this case should force us to question whether vacations to Iraq should be legal at all.
-Ethan
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Related posts:
- Can you have a republican, religious state?
- Iran: The Times They Are A-Changin’
- Obama and the Iranian election
- Who is responsible for cleaning up this mess?
- Is Iran a weak competitive authoritarian regime?
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