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The UK government has strongly condemned a 10-year prison sentence handed down to a British couple detained in Iran, describing the ruling as “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable.”
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran as part of a round-the-world motorcycle journey. Iranian authorities charged them with espionage — allegations the couple have consistently denied.
The pair are currently being held in Tehran’s Evin prison, a facility known for housing political detainees and foreign nationals.
UK Government Reacts
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper criticised the sentence, stating that Britain will continue pressing Iranian authorities for their release.
“This sentence is completely appalling and totally unjustifiable,” she said. “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.”
She added that ensuring the couple’s welfare remains a priority, with consular assistance continuing for both them and their relatives.
Family Raises Concerns Over Trial
The Foremans’ family say they were informed of the verdict last week and are deeply concerned about both the couple’s wellbeing and the fairness of the legal process.
Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman’s son, told ITV News that the trial lasted only three hours and that his parents were not permitted to present a defence.
“My parents have now been sentenced to 10 years following a trial that lasted just three hours,” he said. “They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage.”
Bennett also expressed hope that the UK government would take decisive action following the sentencing.
“We were previously told that once sentencing occurred, further action would follow. We now hope the government will use every available avenue to secure their release,” he added.
Campaign for Release
In January, Bennett joined former detainees and campaigners outside Downing Street to urge stronger government intervention. Among those present were Anoosheh Ashoori, a British-Iranian previously imprisoned in Iran for five years, and Richard Ratcliffe, who led a high-profile campaign — including hunger strikes — for the release of his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
The group delivered a petition signed by 70,000 people calling on the government to intensify efforts to free the couple.
Couple Maintain Innocence
Prior to the sentencing, Lindsay Foreman told the BBC that her visit to Iran was part of a “global initiative to focus on the good” and promote unity.
“If anything, my desire to find what connects us is even greater,” she said.
Craig Foreman has said that the rare monthly meetings with his wife are what help him endure imprisonment.
“I know her prison is just 70 metres away, and I get to see her once a month,” he said. “For both of us, 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 couple are expected to appear before a court in Tehran again in the coming days.
