Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned a 10-year prison sentence handed to a British couple in Iran as "totally unjustifiable," pledging to pursue their case "relentlessly" with the Iranian government.
Couple Detained During Motorcycle Journey
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while traveling through Iran on an around-the-world motorcycle journey. They have been detained on espionage charges, which they consistently deny, and are being held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
"This sentence is completely appalling and totally unjustifiable," said Cooper in a strong statement. "We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family."
Family's Deep Concern Over Judicial Process
Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son, revealed that the family was informed of the sentence last week and expressed "deep concern" for the couple's welfare and the "lack of transparency" in their judicial process.
"My parents have now been sentenced to 10 years following a trial that lasted just three hours and in which they were not allowed to present a defence," Bennett told ITV News. "They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage."
He added that the family now hopes the UK Government will "act decisively and use every available avenue to secure their release," noting they were previously told that further action would follow sentencing.
Public Campaign and Petition Delivery
In January, Bennett was joined at the steps of 10 Downing Street by former detainee Anoosheh Ashoori and Richard Ratcliffe, who fought a public campaign involving two hunger strikes to secure his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release from Iran. Together, they delivered a 70,000-signature petition calling on the government to do more to free the Foremans.
Harrowing Prison Conditions Described
Ahead of his sentencing, Craig Foreman described his detention in stark terms, with a one-word message for the UK Government: "Help. Full stop."
"I don't understand why we have been here for 13 months, being held hostage in 2026," he told ITV News. "In what day and age does this happen? When does this end?"
He detailed being held in an "eight-foot cell with a hole in the floor and a sink" and described the devastating effects of 57 days in solitary confinement: "Emotionally and physically, it broke me to pieces."
Sustained by Monthly Meetings
The couple is due to appear before a court in Tehran in the coming days. Craig Foreman revealed that infrequent meetings with his wife sustain him during their ordeal.
"I know her prison is just 70 metres away, and I get to see her once a month," he said. "For me and for Lindsay, seeing each other is the only thing that's keeping us going right now. I love my wife dearly. She's the love of my life."
The Foreign Secretary emphasized that the couple's welfare remains a priority, with continued consular assistance being provided to them and their families as diplomatic efforts intensify.
