Detained Couple in Iran: Relatives Express Anxiety Regarding Detention Facilities' Status
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple, have been detained in Iran since early 2025. The couple, who were arrested while travelling by motorcycle, have been facing espionage charges, a claim they vehemently deny.
Upon their arrest, the Foreman couple was separated and subjected to severe pressure, including torture and sleep deprivation. After nearly seven months, they have been transferred to different prisons near Tehran—Lindsay to Qarchak Women’s Prison and Craig to Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary (Evin Prison), both known for their harsh conditions and overcrowding.
The UK government has confirmed the couple's detention and has been actively engaging with Iranian authorities regarding their situation. The British government has rejected the espionage charges and demanded their release, providing consular assistance, and maintaining close contact with the family.
The family's worry continues due to the harsh prison conditions and separation of the two from one another. In August 2025, the couple made their first phone call home in over seven months, reassuring their family that they are “being looked after as well as possible” and were mentally stable despite the circumstances.
Public campaigns have been launched, calling for the UK government to do more to aid the couple, describing them as "innocent British citizens - hostages, not criminals." The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has emphasised the importance of consular assistance and maintaining communication with the Foreman family.
Iranian authorities state the couple’s case is progressing through judicial procedures according to Iranian law, though no resolution or trial outcome has been publicly reported yet. The family's hope is that the situation will be resolved soon, and the Foreman couple will be reunited and returned home.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-57286234 [2] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/british-couple-detained-in-iran-for-six-months-deny-espionage-charges [3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-couple-iran-detention-foreman-b2153597.html [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/british-couple-iran-phone-family-first-time-since-january-2025-08-12/ [5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/13/british-couple-detained-in-iran-deny-espionage-charges-family-says
[1] As the legal proceedings surrounding the Foreman couple's espionage charges continue, the general public in the UK are closely following the case, with many voicing their concerns on crime-and-justice forums and in discussions related to general-news.
[2] Meanwhile, the UK government continues to diligently work on securing the release of Lindsay and Craig Foreman, advocating for their fair treatment and hoping to bring about a resolution in the field of politics.
