TL:DR – British Couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman Sentenced to 10 Years in Iran for Spying
- British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman sentenced to ten years in Iranian prison for alleged espionage.
- Arrested in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world.
- Families and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper call the sentence unjust and urge government intervention.
- Lindsay’s son, Joe Bennett, seeks UK government action to secure their release, citing lack of evidence.
- The couple’s only comfort is their rare monthly meetings in Evin Prison, described as emotionally and physically taxing.
British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman jailed in Iran for 10 years on ‘spying’ charges | News World
### British Couple Jailed in Iran for Alleged Spying
A British couple who were on the trip of a lifetime have been jailed in Iran for ten years after being accused of spying.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested by Iranian forces in January last year while travelling around the world on a motorcycle. The couple, from East Sussex, who are being held in Tehran’s Evin prison, have continued to deny allegations of espionage.
Lindsay’s son, Joe Bennett, told the BBC the sentencing was ‘gut-wrenching’. He expressed hope that the UK Government would act decisively following the sentencing. “You don’t fully ever know, but I think if you look at history, the 10 years is just a number, and that we work towards it being as short a time as possible,” he said.
### Reaction from the UK Government
‘This sentence is completely appalling and totally unjustifiable,’ Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated. ‘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.’
It’s been more than a year since they were arrested. “They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage,” Cooper added.
### Calls for Action
In January, Bennett was joined by former detainee Anoosheh Ashoori and Richard Ratcliffe, who fought a public campaign that involved two hunger strikes to have his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, freed from Iran.
Ahead of his sentencing, Foreman said he had a one-word message for the UK Government. “One word would be: help. Full stop,” he told ITV News. He described being held in an eight-foot cell with a hole in the floor and a sink, adding: “Emotionally and physically, it broke me to pieces.”
### Couple’s Infrequent Meetings
Craig said the infrequent meetings with his wife are what sustain him. “I know her prison is just 70 metres away, and I get to see her once a month,” he said. “For Lindsay, and for me, 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.”