British couple jailed for 10 years over ‘spying on Iran’ lose appeal, family confirms
A British couple jailed in Iran on espionage charges have had their appeal rejected, their families have confirmed.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who denied the espionage allegations, were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February.
Their families claim they were denied attendance at the appeal hearing. The couple was detained in January 2025 while on a motorcycle trip around the world via Iran.
Ms. Foreman’s son, Joe Bennett, expressed concern, stating that “the dial needs to change” because his parents “don’t understand the process.”
She said: “Mum Lindsay and stepdad Craig were not allowed to attend their respective appeal hearings.
“We do not know whether they have received an accurate explanation of what was discussed on their behalf.
“We know they were asked to sign documents, they were asked to sign documents they couldn’t read, and they refused, but we don’t know the details of when this happened or what happened.
“Their case has now been referred to the Supreme Court, but we do not understand the process, the timeline or what, if anything, will be presented on their behalf.”
The couple’s family stated that Mr. Foreman was on the 25th day of his hunger strike and Mrs. Foreman was on the 16th day, and that all communication between them had been cut off by the Iranian authorities.
Mr Bennett said he met with officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Monday but left without “clarity about what kind of pressure was being put on Tehran”.
He continued: “Their objections were unsuccessful and they don’t know why.
“They are on hunger strike because they have run out of ways to mobilize their own government.
“The FCDO met with us yesterday and was very courteous. But being polite is not the same as doing something to secure their release.”
“The dial needs to change, and it needs to change now.”
The FCDO warns all British and Anglo-Iranian citizens not to travel to Iran due to the “significant risk of arrest, interrogation or detention”.
The government has previously described the couple’s 10-year sentences as “completely appalling and completely unjust”.
The FCDO has been approached for comment.
