Faye Turney human face of Iran-Britain crisis

By Deborah Haynes and Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - Mother, wife and Royal Navy sailor Faye Turney has become the human face of a crisis between Britain and Iran over the detention of 15 British military personnel that has turned into a media show.

Turney was propelled into the spotlight on Wednesday when Iran broadcast an interview with the 26-year-old, wearing the headscarf worn traditionally by many women in the Muslim world and smoking a cigarette.

She offered a poignant image on television - with eyes cast down and blonde hair tucked into a black hijab, she acknowledged "trespassing" in Iranian waters last week and apologized for the incident.

British tabloids trumpeted their disgust at what they saw as a coerced "confession" and pure Iranian propaganda. "A British mother paraded on state TV. Forced to wear the hijab," The Daily Mail wrote.

After watching the television clips of Turney, body language expert Robert Phipps said: "Her tone was very monosyllabic and it was delivered in a slow format. The eyes were cast down and to the left which showed she is feeling stress.

"She singled herself out by being the only woman there and the Iranians made hay with that. She has been forced to wear a hijab and does not look comfortable," he told Reuters.

Defense analyst Charles Heyman said: "It does tug at the heartstrings and is very different to the picture of a tough marine. We are not the masters of spin. The Iranians are good at public relations campaigns and spin."

Heyman said Iran was aiming at a different audience: "They are saying they don't really feel that women should be in a frontline operation in the armed forces. They are playing to Muslim sensibilities."

Turney, who lives in Plymouth in south-west England with husband Adam and three-year-old daughter Molly, tried to reassure her family in a hand-written letter released by Iran.

"Please don't worry about me. I am staying strong. Hopefully it won't be long until I am home to get ready for Molly's birthday party..."

"PURE PROPAGANDA"

Turney was detained along with the 14 other British sailors and marines after they had searched a ship during a routine patrol in the mouth of the waterway separating Iran and Iraq.

Britain says they were in Iraqi waters. Tehran says they had crossed into Iranian waters when they were detained.

Just hours before, Turney had happened to be interviewed by the BBC.

"I am the only mum on board at the moment. A lot of people find it hard to understand why and how I can do the job I do but I have always wanted to join the forces," she said.