The son of a British couple imprisoned in Iran for more than a year has voiced fears they have been abandoned by the UK government, as they endure horrific conditions in a jail packed with protesters.
Living in 'hell on repeat' in Evin prison
Lindsay and Craig Foreman from Folkestone, Kent, were arrested in January 2025 while on a global motorcycle trip. The Iranian authorities charged them with espionage, a charge they vehemently deny. They have since been held in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
Their son, Joe Bennett, told The Independent that his parents are living in "hell on repeat". He described cells so overcrowded due to Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests that his mother, Lindsay, often does not leave her bed. "They wake up with rats in their beds. They've got rats in the kitchen. It sounds like hell on earth," he said.
Mr Bennett, who has managed to speak to his mother by phone, reported hearing daily and explosive fights in the prison. "It must be absolutely petrifying," he said, highlighting the constant danger and anxiety.
Embassy closure leaves 'no clear plan' for release
The situation grew more precarious when the British embassy in Tehran was abruptly closed on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The withdrawal of the ambassador and consular staff followed a security assessment amid threats of US military action against Iran.
This closure has left the Foremans without a clear plan for what to do if they are released. "I've told my parents, 'Just make sure the plan at the moment doesn't include going to the British Embassy, because they're not there,'" Mr Bennett revealed.
He expressed bafflement at Foreign Office assurances of remote consular assistance, given the severe limitations. "You can't provide consular assistance remotely because you can't go to check their welfare. And there's no internet," he stated, referring to an Iranian internet blackout imposed on 8 January.
A plea for public support and government action
Mr Bennett has been campaigning tirelessly for his parents' release, feeling increasingly powerless and isolated. He criticised the UK government's approach of quiet diplomacy, which he feels has failed.
"We're a year on, and yet there's this tendency not to rock a capsized boat. It doesn't make any sense," he argued. "If your quiet diplomacy hasn't worked, publicly defend them. We haven't heard our own prime minister whisper their names once. And I think that's scandalous."
In a statement to The Independent, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: "We remain deeply concerned that Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been charged with espionage in Iran. We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities. We continue to provide Craig and Lindsay with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members."
Despite these assurances, for Joe Bennett and his family, the nightmare continues with no end in sight, trapped in a geopolitical crisis far from home.
