TEHRAN — Craig and Lindsay Foreman lost their appeal against 10-year Iranian espionage convictions in February 2025 and have begun hunger strikes while detained in Tehran’s Evin prison. The British couple was arrested in January 2025 during an around-the-world motorcycle trip and deny all charges against them.
Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman’s son, said neither Craig nor Lindsay Foreman was permitted to attend their own appeal hearing. He added they were asked to sign documents in Farsi that they could not read and have since started hunger strikes. “Their case has now passed to the Supreme Court, but we don’t understand the process, the timeline, or what, if anything, will be submitted in their name,” Bennett said.
Craig Foreman, a carpenter, has been refusing food for 25 days but is consuming sugar, milk, and water. Lindsay Foreman, a life coach, briefly resumed eating but is now on day 16 of her hunger strike.
The couple has been held in Evin prison since their arrest and has been prevented from calling their family in the U.K. since giving an interview to the BBC more than a month ago. Their last consular visit occurred in December, despite ongoing efforts by Britain’s ambassador to Tehran, diplomats, and officials in London to provide assistance, including prison visits and facilitating family calls.
Barrister Haydee Dijkstal, part of their U.K. legal team, said, “Craig and Lindsay are innocent tourists who are arbitrarily detained and who have had their fundamental rights severely and consistently violated throughout their detention.”
Britain’s Foreign Office described the couple’s incarceration as “unjustified and appalling.” A spokesperson added, “We are disappointed by the appeal decision and will continue working to ensure that Craig and Lindsay are returned safely to the U.K.” The U.K. government has long advised British and British-Iranian nationals against traveling to Iran, noting that “having a British passport or connections to the U.K. can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.”