A British man already serving a 10-year sentence in Iran has been handed an additional two years in prison for speaking to the media from his cell, according to his family — a punishment they called a “flagrant abuse of the most basic rights”.
Craig Foreman, 54, was arrested with his wife Lindsay in January 2025 while passing through Iran on a motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia. Both adamantly deny espionage. In February, they were each sentenced to 10 years.
“Craig Foreman gets extra two years in Iranian jail for speaking to media from cell; family says he had no lawyer or translator.”
Relatives of Craig Foreman said he was taken from his cell in Tehran’s Evin Prison for what he believed would be a meeting with his lawyer. Instead, he was brought before a judge and informed his sentence was being extended.
“He was told the two years had been added because he had spoken to the press,” said Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman’s son and family spokesperson. “Despite requests, he was allowed no lawyer, no translator and no opportunity to defend himself. We didn’t think we could be any more shocked at their appalling treatment, but in this case we are absolutely flabbergasted.”
The couple began a hunger strike in May after their appeal failed. Craig stopped eating on 9 May, Lindsay on 18 May. Last week, the US-based human rights group HRANA said Craig had lost about 16kg (35lb) and Lindsay was suffering from dizziness and body tremors.
All communication with the couple has been cut off by Iranian authorities, the family said. A letter urging them to end their hunger strike had not been delivered, nor had medication and other basic supplies.
“They are weak, they are hungry, and now Craig is being punished simply for being heard,” Bennett said. “To add two more years to an innocent man’s sentence, in secret and with no chance to defend himself, is a flagrant abuse of the most basic rights any person is owed.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said it was “urgently following up with the Iranian authorities about the reported increased sentence”.
The family’s legal team said the two-year extension would be added to a formal complaint submitted to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Haydee Dijkstal, a member of the legal team, argued the detention “lacks a legal basis, that their fundamental right to a fair trial has been gravely violated, and that their detention is a violation of international law”.
Last month, two UN human rights experts called on Iran to release the couple, saying proceedings had been marked by grave irregularities. “Lindsay and Craig Foreman should not be in prison,” said special rapporteurs Dr Alice Edwards and Mai Sato. “They appear to have been wrongfully detained, prosecuted on highly questionable grounds, and sentenced after proceedings that failed to meet basic fair trial standards.”
The family has urged the Iranian authorities to show mercy and allow the couple to come home. Earlier, they called on the UK government to facilitate a prisoner swap with convicted Iranian stalker Richard Jan. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said “arrangements can be made of that kind” but declined to discuss specifics.
The Foremans, from East Sussex, are now 18 months into an ordeal that shows no sign of ending.