The son of a British woman imprisoned with her husband in Iran has issued a desperate plea to the UK Government, urging officials to publicly defend them as they face spending Christmas inside Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
A World Tour Interrupted by Arrest
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 52 and from East Sussex, were taken into custody on January 3rd in Kerman, southern Iran. The couple were in the midst of an ambitious global motorcycle tour, intending to travel from Armenia to Pakistan via Iran on their way to Australia. Their journey was abruptly halted when Iranian authorities arrested them. They were later charged with espionage, allegations which they vehemently deny.
Family's Frustration with Government 'Stalemate'
Mrs Foreman's son, Joe Bennett, has been at the forefront of campaigning for his mother and step-father's release. He told Sky News that while the family is being supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and has met Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, he feels profound frustration with the Government's approach.
"There is this policy, it seems, to sit and wait and allow this judicial process which is, in my eyes, a complete circus, to play out," Mr Bennett said. He revealed that the family was told a sentence would be passed within weeks after a court appearance almost two months ago, but nothing has happened since.
He argues that the severity of the charges demands a stronger response: "They are accused of espionage, spying for the British state, and yet that same UK Government won't come out and defend them and say that they completely deny the allegations." Mr Bennett believes the UK and Iran are at a stalemate, each waiting for the other to move, while his parents remain trapped.
Dire Conditions and Deteriorating Health
Mr Bennett provided a harrowing account of the conditions his parents are enduring. He stated his mother is "suffering a lot with her skin and weight" due to poor ventilation and filthy surroundings.
"It is extremely dirty. She's cooking, the kitchen's filled with rats. It is dire, to be honest with you, for them both," he described. The couple have reportedly lost significant weight due to a lack of nourishment, surviving on a daily diet of rice and gristle. The prison is overcrowded and cramped, offering little opportunity for exercise.
As the Bennett family prepares for a Christmas without the Foremans, Joe spoke of feeling "a sense of guilt" knowing his mother is "stuck in a cell" during the festive period.
The FCDO maintains its longstanding travel warning, advising all British and British-Iranian nationals against travelling to Iran due to the "significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention". In an October statement, an FCDO spokesman said: "We are deeply concerned by reports that Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been charged with espionage in Iran. We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities." The department confirmed it is providing consular assistance and remains in close contact with the family.
