The family of a British couple detained in Iran's notorious Evin Prison say they are 'terrified' after all contact was severed. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, have allegedly had their phone cards confiscated by prison officials, leaving their children uncertain if they are even alive. The couple, whom Minister Hamish Falconer previously described in Parliament as 'innocent tourists,' have been held on spying charges since January 2025, which they vehemently deny.
Family Fears Solitary Confinement
The family now fears the couple may have been moved to solitary confinement as punishment for speaking to the media. Conditions inside the prison are reportedly dire. Craig, a carpenter, is suffering from an untreated dental abscess and is held in a wing with other foreign nationals. Lindsay, a psychologist, is reportedly in a cell where no one else speaks English.
Previously, Craig told his family that if their ability to communicate was taken away, they would go on hunger strike in protest. The pair stopped eating in November 2025 to draw attention to their case.
Son's Plea
Lindsay's son, Joe, 32, from Folkestone, Kent, who gave up his career to campaign for their release, said in a statement: 'We simply do not know if my mum and Craig are safe. Craig told us that they might have to stop eating if their calls were taken away. I have not spoken to my mum for over a week now. Every day of silence makes it worse. We don't know what is happening to them and we are terrified for them.'
The family claims the couple's distress peaked after a phone call with the British Ambassador to Iran, Hugo Shorter. Joe added: 'My mum came off that call feeling like Britain had determined to simply abandon them in prison. That is devastating to hear when ministers themselves have publicly acknowledged that my mum and Craig are innocent.'
Government Response
During an interview with the BBC in early May, after which the family says they've had no contact with the couple, Craig shared chilling details from inside the prison, alleging that four of his cellmates had been executed. He claimed inmates were often taken away under the false promise of a family visit, only for their deaths to be announced on prison TV the next day.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: 'Since Lindsay and Craig's arrest last year, Britain's Ambassador to Tehran, diplomats and officials in London have been working to provide consular assistance. This includes the ambassador visiting them in prison and facilitating calls with their family back in the UK. The Foreign Secretary last met the family on 17 March. She set out to them personally how unjustified and appalling their incarceration continues to be. The UK Government continues work to safely return Craig and Lindsay to the UK.'
