The family of a British couple detained in Iran have confirmed that they are “holding strong”, following their first direct communication with them in seven months.
Both British tourists are being held separately in overcrowded and unsanitary detention facilities after their arrest as supposed spies while travelling through the country.
East Sussex residents Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January during their global motorcycle tour and subsequently accused of espionage, charges they vehemently deny. Recent reports have found that Iran is also the “most prolific” perpetrator of repression in the UK by a foreign state, often trying to silence journalists and dissidents on the streets of Britain.
The couple’s son, Joe Bennett from Folkestone, Kent, shared details of an eight-minute phone call with his mother to the BBC. He said: “We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted.”
He believes his parents are “holding strong”, adding that “they’re resilient, they’re positive, and somehow, they’re still smiling”.
According to Mr Bennett, the couple has been separated and is being held in different prisons with access to only basic resources. He also revealed to BBC Radio Kent that British officials noted his father appeared “dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight”.
His mother’s mobility has been affected due to the prison conditions.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, against travelling to Iran.
A spokesman said: “We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran.
“We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities. We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.”