Lindsay and Craig Foreman speak from Iran jail over 10-year sentence
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 1
Lindsay and Craig Foreman speak from Iran jail over 10-year sentence
10 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 1
The East Sussex couple, held 16 months in Tehran's Evin prison after their January 2025 arrest, say they are innocent and fear they will be jailed for years.
Speaking publicly together for the first time via monitored prison payphones, they described isolation, poor hygiene, no healthcare and trauma after nearby bombing during the recent Iran-Israel-US war.
The Foreign Office calls their detention appalling and unjustifiable, but consular visits remain suspended after the British embassy's temporary closure. They say questions about a "good life" on their motorcycle trip triggered espionage allegations.
Amidst war and soaring executions, can diplomacy save a British couple jailed in Iran over a simple question?
How did a world motorcycle tour become a 10-year espionage sentence in Tehran's most notorious prison?
Life-Threatening Conditions and Diplomatic Deadlock: The Foremans’ 10-Year Ordeal in Iran’s Evin Prison
Overview
Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested in Iran in January 2025 on espionage charges widely seen as politically motivated. They endured harsh interrogation, denial of legal rights, and a sham trial that led to a 10-year sentence. Held in Tehran's Evin Prison, they face life-threatening conditions worsened by severe overcrowding, medical neglect, and food shortages. The prison is dangerously exposed to nearby military strikes, effectively making them human shields amid regional conflict. Despite UK diplomatic efforts and public condemnation, the Foreman family criticizes the government's slow response. Their son Joe Bennett campaigns tirelessly, highlighting the urgent need for stronger international action to secure their release and ensure their survival.