British Couple 'Held Hostage' in Iran Receive 10-Year Jail Sentences
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a married couple from East Sussex, have been sentenced to 10 years in an Iranian prison after being accused of espionage. The pair were arrested in January last year while traveling through the country on a worldwide motorcycle journey, which was abruptly ended by Iranian authorities.
'Solitary Confinement' and Lack of Evidence
Craig Foreman claims they have been "held hostage" and forced into solitary confinement since their arrest. He described being kept in an eight-foot cell with a hole in the floor and a sink, stating that 57 days in isolation "emotionally and physically broke me to pieces." The couple is allowed to see each other only once a month, a meeting Craig says is the only thing keeping them going.
Their son, Joe Bennett, revealed that the trial lasted just three hours and was based on no evidence. "My parents have now been sentenced to 10 years following a trial that lasted just three hours and in which they were not allowed to present a defence," he told ITV News. "They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage."
Plea for UK Government Intervention
Craig Foreman had a one-word message for the UK government ahead of sentencing: "help." He expressed confusion over their prolonged detention, asking, "I don't understand why we have been here for 13 months, being held hostage in 2026. In what day and age does this happen? When does this end?"
Joe Bennett emphasized the family's deep concern for their welfare and the lack of transparency in the judicial process. He added, "We were previously told that once sentencing occurred, further action would follow. We now hope the UK Government will act decisively and use every available avenue to secure their release."
Foreign Secretary's Response and Public Campaign
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper labeled the sentence as "totally unjustifiable." She stated, "This sentence is completely appalling and totally unjustifiable. We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family."
In January, Joe Bennett was joined by former detainee Anoosheh Ashoori and Richard Ratcliffe, who campaigned for his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release, to deliver a 70,000-signature petition to Downing Street. The petition calls on the government to intensify efforts to free the Foremans.
Lindsay Foreman, speaking from Tehran's Evin prison before sentencing, said she came to Iran as part of a "global initiative to focus on the good, to focus on finding unity in humanity." She added that her desire to find common ground has only grown stronger during her imprisonment.
The couple is due to appear before a court in Tehran in the coming days, as their family and the UK government continue to push for their release.
