This Christmas, a British couple will spend the festive season incarcerated in a notorious Iranian prison, their family left to grapple with a heartbreaking void. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, have been detained in Iran for nearly a year on espionage charges they strongly deny.
A Dream Adventure Turns into a Nightmare
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January 2025 while on a global motorbiking adventure. What was meant to be the trip of a lifetime swiftly descended into a nightmare when Iranian authorities detained them as alleged spies. Their children were left in agonising silence for months, unsure if their parents were even alive.
The couple, held in Tehran's infamous Evin Prison, have been forced to endure appalling conditions. Their son, Joe Bennett, has detailed a grim reality of overcrowded, vermin-infested cells with inadequate food and washing facilities. Lindsay has developed a skin condition from poor ventilation, while Craig has suffered significant weight loss and severe, untreated dental pain.
A Family's Heartbreak and a Campaign for Freedom
For the Foreman family, the contrast with past Christmases is painfully stark. Joe recalls his mother and stepfather as the heart of festive celebrations, filled with music, sparkle, and big family gatherings. "All of that is being denied to them in the cruellest way possible," he said. "Honestly, just thinking about it brings me to tears."
The family will gather this Christmas, upholding tradition as their parents would wish, but with a constant feeling of incompleteness. Phone calls with Lindsay and Craig are rare and never guaranteed, especially over the holiday period. "Every call reminds us of the situation they're trapped in," Joe explained, describing the conversations as "bittersweet."
Strength from Support and a Poem from Prison
Despite the ordeal, the family's campaign for the couple's release has gained public support, which Joe says has given his parents strength. Initially shocked to learn people were advocating for them, the awareness that they are not forgotten provides vital hope.
From her cell, Lindsay Foreman has penned a poignant Christmas poem, 'A Sad Voice from Evin Prison', expressing grief and a longing for connection. The family continues to fight tirelessly, vowing that this must be the last Christmas Lindsay and Craig spend behind bars.
The Free Lindsay and Craig campaign is ongoing, with the public urged to support their cause.
