Craig Foreman, a British man jailed in Iran on espionage charges, has been handed an additional two-year prison sentence for speaking to media outlets, his family has revealed. The 68-year-old and his wife Lindsay, 59, both from East Sussex, were originally sentenced to 10 years in February after being convicted of espionage, charges they deny. The couple was arrested in January last year while traveling through Iran on an around-the-world motorcycle trip and are now held in Tehran's Evin prison.
Family Shocked by Secret Sentencing
The couple's son, Joe Bennett, expressed the family's shock, stating: 'We have received extremely concerning reports that Craig has been sentenced to a further two years in prison. We understand he was told he was being taken to see his lawyer but was instead brought before a judge and informed of the additional sentence. Despite requests, he was allowed no lawyer, no translator and no opportunity to defend himself. He was told the two years had been added because he had spoken to the press. We didn’t think we could be any more shocked at their appalling treatment, but in this case we are absolutely flabbergasted.'
Hunger Strike and Failed Appeal
According to the family, the couple lost an appeal against their convictions in June and were reportedly unable to attend the hearing. Mr Bennett said his father was on the 68th day of a hunger strike, while his mother was on her 59th. A letter asking them to end the strike had not been delivered. The family is pleading for mercy, with Mr Bennett adding: 'We are asking, with everything we have, for them to be shown mercy and allowed to come home.'
UK Government Response
The family welcomed the appointment of former Conservative MP and Middle East minister Alistair Burt as the UK’s first envoy for complex consular cases. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warns all British and British-Iranian nationals not to travel to Iran due to a 'significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.' The UK government previously described the couple’s 10-year sentences as 'completely appalling and totally unjustifiable.' The Mirror has approached the FCDO for comment.
