Key facts
- Craig and Lindsay Foreman, jailed in Iran on espionage charges, are continuing a hunger strike.
- The couple has lost significant weight, with Craig Foreman losing about 16 kg and Lindsay Foreman over 14 kg.
- They have been denied adequate medical care, with Lindsay Foreman not receiving a check-up for about 10 days despite symptoms.
- The Foremans are barred from contacting family or each other, though they were recently allowed brief phone calls with their lawyer.
- Items sent by the British embassy, including medicines and eyeglasses, have not been delivered.
- The couple was arrested in January 2025 and sentenced to 10 years in prison each, charges they deny.
Two Britons, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who are jailed in Iran on espionage charges, are continuing their hunger strike over alleged poor prison conditions and lack of medical care, according to a report by the U.S.-based Iranian human rights news agency HRANA. The couple has reportedly lost a significant amount of weight during the strike, with Craig Foreman losing approximately 16 kg and Lindsay Foreman over 14 kg.
HRANA cited an unidentified source familiar with the situation, stating that Lindsay Foreman has not received a medical check-up for about 10 days despite experiencing dizziness, tremors, and severe weakness. While the couple was recently permitted brief telephone contact with their lawyer, they remain barred from communicating with their families or each other. Furthermore, essential items sent by the British embassy, including medicines and eyeglasses, have not been delivered despite approval from prison medical staff and ward officials.
The Foremans were arrested in January 2025 while traveling through Iran by motorcycle. They were subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison each on espionage charges, a conviction that was upheld on appeal in June. The couple has denied the accusations, asserting that no evidence was presented against them and they were not afforded an opportunity to defend themselves.
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper previously condemned the sentence as "totally unjustifiable" in February and stated the government's continued efforts to secure their release. Human rights organizations have suggested that Iran often detains foreign and dual nationals on security-related charges to use them as leverage in disputes with other countries, a practice Tehran denies, citing legitimate security concerns.