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British couple in Iranian prison launch hunger strike
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges they deny, have begun refusing food to demand their release, their family said on Tuesday.
Detention timeline
The couple from East Sussex were arrested in January 2025 while passing through Iran during a round-the-world motorcycle trip. In February 2026, an Iranian court sentenced them to ten years in prison for spying.
Hunger strike details
Craig Foreman, 54, has not eaten for twelve days after authorities cut the couple's phone access in early May, relatives confirmed. Lindsay Foreman, 53, briefly paused her strike after being promised family contact but has since resumed.
Lindsay's son, Joe Bennett, called the situation a "medical emergency in the making" and urged immediate intervention. "My mum and Craig cannot wait for Westminster to resolve its own crisis," he said. "Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper must act personally and without delay. Two lives are at stake."
Government response
The UK Foreign Office has repeatedly condemned the detention as "appalling and unjustified" and pledged continued efforts to secure their return. In April, Minister Hamish Falconer told Parliament the couple were "innocent tourists" and described their case as an "injustice."
Prison conditions and statements
Before their phone access was revoked, the Foremans spoke to the BBC from Tehran's Evin Prison, where they expressed despair. "We're wasting our lives in here and rotting away," Craig Foreman said. "We are innocent people. We have committed no offence."
Public protests planned
Supporters are organizing a motorcycle rally from Kensington Palace to Parliament Square on Wednesday to mark 500 days since the couple's detention. MPs, relatives, and friends will also deliver a petition to Downing Street demanding "urgent action" to bring the Foremans home.
