The couple are being held at Tehran’s Evin prison.
A British couple, from East Sussex, have been sentenced to 10 years in Iran on charges of spying while their worried family plead with the UK government to step in.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman have denied the spying charges and their family have been highlighting concerns about their trial and prison conditions. The couple were arrested in January 2025 while travelling the country as part of a world motorbike trip, reported The Star.
They are being held at Tehran’s Evin prison. Joe Bennett. The couple will appear before a court in Tehran in the coming days.
Lindsey’s son confirmed they were only told last week about the sentence. The family are “deeply concerned” for their welfare in prison, and “lack of transparency” in the judicial process.
“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 said.
“They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage.”
“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.”
Craig asked the UK Government for help as he is kept in a hellhole prison. “One word would be: help. Full stop,” he told ITV News.
“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?”
He described being held in an “eight-foot cell with a hole in the floor and a sink.” He said the effects of 57 days in solitary confinement had: “Emotionally and physically, it broke me to pieces”.
Craig said the infrequent meetings with his wife are what sustain him.
“I know her prison is just 70 metres away, and I get to see her once a month. For me and for Lindsay, seeing each other is the only thing that’s keeping us going right now. I love my wife dearly. She’s the love of my life.”
The Foreign Secretary said the 10-year jail sentence for Lindsay and Craig Foreman in Iran was “totally unjustifiable”.
“This sentence is completely appalling and totally unjustifiable,” said Yvette Cooper. “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.
Joe Foreman, Lindsay’s son, launched a campaign and is joined by former detainee Anoosheh Ashoori and Richard Ratcliffe who fought a public campaign that involved two hunger strikes to have his wife freed from Iran.
They have delivered a 70.000 signature petition calling on the Government to do more to help. During his ITV news Interview, Joe 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.”