The son of a British couple imprisoned in Iran has issued a desperate plea to the UK government, describing the "dire" and unsanitary conditions his mother and stepfather are enduring as they approach a year in detention.
Hunger Strike and Harsh Conditions
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a couple from East Sussex, were taken into custody in Kerman in January 2025 during a global motorcycle tour. They were later charged with espionage, allegations they firmly deny. In October, they were transferred to Tehran's infamous Evin prison, where they are likely to spend Christmas.
Their son, Joe Bennett, told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that contact was extremely limited until recently. "I'd only been able to speak with her three times in just under 11 months," he said. This changed after the pair went on a hunger strike last month, which has led to near-daily communication but also visible physical decline.
"They've lost a lot of weight because there isn't enough nourishment. They're eating rice and gristle every day," Mr Bennett stated. He detailed an overcrowded, cramped environment where exercise is impossible and ventilation is poor, causing his mother to suffer from a severe skin condition.
'Kitchen's Filled With Rats'
Mr Bennett provided a grim picture of their daily life inside the prison. "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 revealed.
With the festive season underway, the family's anguish is heightened. Mr Bennett described his mother and stepfather as integral to "keeping the Christmas spirit alive," a spirit he says the family has now "lost a lot." He also confessed to feeling "a sense of guilt" while his mother remains "stuck in a cell."
Frustration with UK Government Response
Mr Bennett expressed significant frustration with the British government's handling of the case. He criticised what he sees as a passive approach, saying, "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."
He highlighted the lack of progress, noting that a promised sentence two months ago after their last court appearance has still not materialised. "They're not being accused of something like shoplifting... they are being accused of espionage. This is a state level charge of crime, and they need to be backing their UK citizens," he argued.
His appeal is clear: "We need to be being more accountable as a government and speaking out... taking a stand and saying: 'This isn't right, we do not agree with it, and we want our citizens home as soon as possible.'"
In response, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesman said in October: "We are deeply concerned by reports that Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been charged with espionage in Iran." The statement confirmed that consular assistance is being provided and that the case continues to be raised with Iranian authorities.
The FCDO maintains a travel warning against all travel to Iran for British and British-Iranian nationals due to the "significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention."
