A British couple detained in Iran on allegations of espionage have suffered a major setback after losing their appeal against a 10-year prison sentence. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, were arrested in January 2025 while traveling on a round-the-world motorbike tour. They were convicted in February on charges of spying, just two weeks before the US-Israeli conflict escalated in the region.
Appeal Denied Amid Language Barriers
The couple, from East Sussex, were not permitted to attend their own trial, according to family members. During the appeal process, they were asked to sign documents written in Farsi, a language they cannot read. Joe Bennett, Lindsay's son, stated that the couple refused to sign the papers. "We know they had been asked to sign documents … documents they could not read, and they refused, but we don’t know the details of when, or what they were," Bennett said. He added that it is unclear whether they received a proper account of the arguments made on their behalf.
Uncertain Future and Lost Contact
The case has now been referred to Iran's Supreme Court, but the timeline for a further ruling remains uncertain. Contact with the couple has been lost, leaving family members reliant on Iranian guards for updates. The Foremans have repeatedly denied all charges, with family insisting there is "no evidence" of espionage. They have described their imprisonment as a "slow-motion destruction" and feel abandoned by the UK government.
Family Calls for UK Government Action
The family has lobbied the UK government for assistance. Downing Street previously described the sentence as "completely appalling and totally unjustifiable" and promised to press for their release. However, Bennett said a recent meeting with the Foreign Office left him without "clarity on what pressure is being applied to Tehran." Craig Foreman has stated, "We are not spies. The charges against us are simply not true," and called on the government to publicly declare their innocence.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said, "We will continue to pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian regime until we see Craig and Lindsay safely returned to the UK." The couple, who fear for their lives in prison, are now facing a decade behind bars, with no clear path to freedom.
