British couple jailed for 10 years in Iran with family ‘deeply concerned’ | World | News
The East Sussex couple, who were held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, were later accused of espionage, which they denied. The foremen had previously appeared at a three-hour hearing at the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran in October and were not allowed to make a defence. Ms Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, said his family was “deeply concerned” about the couple’s welfare and the “lack of transparency” in the judicial process.
He continued: “They have consistently denied the allegations. We have seen no evidence to support the accusation of espionage.”
The family said that the decision was made by the judge of the 15th Branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The couple, both in their 50s, had spent 13 months in what Mr Bennett described as “appalling” conditions, saying they were exposed to dirt, vermin and violence.
He added that they had difficulty eating and lost weight.
Mr Bennett called on the UK Government to “act decisively and use every means possible to secure their release”.
“This sentence is absolutely terrifying And completely unfair,” said Yvette Cooper.
“We will pursue this case uninterruptedly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their families.
“In the meantime, their welfare is our priority and we will continue to provide consular assistance to them and their families.”
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Ahead of his sentencing, Mr Foreman said he had a one-word message to the UK Government.
“One word would be: help. Full stop.” Mr Foreman said he was held in “an eight-foot cell with a hole in the floor and a sink” and spoke of the effects of 57 days of solitary confinement, adding: “It shattered me emotionally and physically.”
He said what keeps him going are the meetings he has with his wife once a month. The Foreign Office currently advises against travel to Iran due to “significant risk of arrest, interrogation or detention” and warns that the UK government may not be able to assist British nationals facing difficulties there.
