Trouble in the streets of Iran has flashed across our television screens for many days, but the clashes over the country’s elections seemed a world away: Not so now.

Fatameh Shams, a 26-year-old Oxford University student living in Summertown, hasn’t heard from her 27-year-old partner Mohammadreza Jalaeipour since he was detained as the couple tried to leave Tehran last Wednesday.

Both were known supporters of reformist Presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

Iran has been a country in meltdown since the disputed presidential election on June 12, with thousands of people asking ‘where is my vote?’ after incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of what his opponents say was a rigged ballot.

That there is no news on Mr Jalaeipour’s whereabouts, let alone his health, which must be unbearable and unimaginable for his partner and family.

Mr Jalaeipour was ushered away at Tehran’s airport by security forces without any explanation. It is now six days since he was held and still nothing is known.

It is too easy to forget the basic civil liberties we enjoy in this country.

We hope Mr Jalaeipour is safe and well, wherever he is, and that the couple are reunited soon.