British Couple Detained in Iran: Son Pleads for Their Release, Denying Espionage Charges
The distressing ordeal of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, a British couple from East Sussex, continues as they remain detained in Iran. Arrested in January while on what they described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” motorbike journey from Spain to Australia, they have since been charged with espionage – allegations their family vehemently denies. Their son, Joe Bennett, has spoken out, expressing his anguish and frustration with the lack of progress in securing their release, emphasizing that his parents are not spies, but simply ordinary individuals caught in a dire geopolitical situation.
Mr. Bennett revealed the emotional toll the detention has taken on him and his family. He recounted breaking down in tears upon hearing of his parents’ arrest and has had no direct contact with them for six months. The couple, both 52, were on a global adventure when they crossed into Iran on December 31st. Their last communication with Mr. Bennett was on January 3rd, before their arrest later that month and the subsequent espionage charges in February.
“I didn’t know what to do or where to turn,” Mr. Bennett shared, highlighting the overwhelming helplessness he felt. His mother managed to send a single “generic letter” to friends and family, offering a sliver of connection. Updates on their well-being have been scarce, limited to three welfare checks by UK embassy officials, the last one occurring in May. “That’s tough when you’re used to hearing someone’s voice every day,” he lamented, underscoring the profound emotional impact of this prolonged silence.
Describing his parents’ current conditions, Mr. Bennett conveyed his mother is sleeping on a “wafer-thin mattress,” a detail that causes immense distress. He emphasized the constant worry about his parents’ emotional and physical state, stating, “You always go back to how they must be feeling, that’s the one thing that gets the family the most.” Despite the grim circumstances, Mr. Bennett highlighted his parents’ resilience, noting their efforts to stay fit in their confined space, even engaging in “figure of eights in their cell,” which he sees as a testament to their “mental fortitude.”
A period of heightened anxiety for the family coincided with the conflict between Iran and Israel in June. The news that their parents were due to be transferred to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison on June 8th, which was subsequently bombed by Israel on June 23rd, compounded their fears. Compounding this was the UK’s decision to withdraw embassy staff from Tehran amidst the wider conflict, leaving Mr. Bennett feeling that his parents were “left alone, we haven’t got people who can push for their safety and wellbeing.”
Family Urges Faster Action Amidst Limited Diplomatic Channels
Mr. Bennett expressed his dissatisfaction with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) approach, calling for more urgent action and clarity on their strategy. While acknowledging the FCDO’s “supportive” words, he described the relationship as purely “functional” and stressed that “quiet diplomacy” had been ongoing for too long. “We know where we stand and what we want, it’s over to you to make this happen,” he implored, signaling a shift from seeking comfort to demanding tangible results.
The FCDO’s current travel advice for Iran strongly discourages all travel, citing significant risks of arrest, questioning, and detention for British and dual-nationals. The guidance explicitly states that face-to-face consular assistance is unavailable in emergencies, and the UK government cannot provide help if individuals encounter difficulties in Iran. This stark warning highlights the extreme challenges faced by the FCDO in providing support to detained citizens.
Despite reservations about their decision to travel, Mr. Bennett asserted that his parents had followed all necessary protocols. They obtained the correct visas, traveled with licensed guides, and adhered to all guidelines, including staying in hotels and using main roads. “They followed every guideline in the book they could… that clearly wasn’t enough,” he stated, suggesting their arrest may be a tactic by the Iranian regime to use them as leverage due to their UK passports.
“I want to be crystal clear, my parents aren’t spies, they’re not political players, they aren’t criminals. They’re Mum and Dad,” Mr. Bennett declared passionately, aiming to humanize his parents amidst the charges. An Iranian judiciary spokesman had previously stated that the couple entered the country “under the guise of tourists” and were involved in gathering information, asserting they were arrested as part of a “coordinated intelligence operation.”
This case echoes a pattern observed in recent years, where Iran has detained numerous dual-nationals, often on charges related to spying and national security, with at least 15 having links to the UK. Human rights organizations suggest these detentions are frequently used as bargaining chips, with releases contingent on concessions from other nations. The FCDO maintains it is “continuing to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities, we’re providing them with consular assistance and we remain in close contact with the family.”