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Christmas message from Evin Prison
Lindsay Foreman, a 53-year-old British woman detained in Iran, has released a poignant Christmas poem from her cell in Tehran's Evin Prison, expressing the pain of separation from her family.
The poem and its impact
Titled A Sad Voice From Evin Prison - A Christmas Poem, the piece reflects on loneliness and grief during the holiday season. Foreman recorded herself reading it over the phone from a noisy prison corridor, marking the first time her voice has been heard publicly since her arrest in January.
In the poem, she describes a "family torn apart" and grief that "has made a home from the hole in our heart." She dedicated the work to her loved ones and "anyone who has lost someone and when Christmas may not be such a happy time."
Arrest and charges
Foreman and her husband, Craig, were on a motorbike journey from Spain to Australia when Iranian authorities detained them in January. They face espionage charges, which their family dismisses as "ludicrous." The couple had valid visas, a tour guide, and a pre-approved itinerary for their trip through Iran.
Foreman had been asking locals along their route about the meaning of a good life-questions that appear to have formed the basis of the regime's accusations.
Conditions in Evin Prison
The couple is being held separately in Evin Prison, notorious for housing political detainees, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Their family describes the conditions as "unimaginable," with overcrowded, unsanitary cells infested with vermin and inadequate hygiene supplies.
"They are in unimaginable conditions... rats running around as they cooked."
Joe Bennett, Foreman's son
Craig Foreman is reportedly suffering from untreated dental pain, while both are said to be losing weight due to insufficient food. After a hunger strike last month, they are now permitted almost daily phone calls with relatives.
Family's plea and UK response
Joe Bennett, Foreman's son, said his mother tries to stay strong during calls but has been heard crying and begging to return home. He described the couple as being "slowly broken" and in "growing distress."
Bennett urged the UK government to publicly defend his parents and refute the espionage allegations. The Foreign Office responded, stating it is "deeply concerned" by the charges and continues to raise the case with Iranian authorities.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper discussed the matter with her Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, last Friday. The UK government advises against all travel to Iran, warning that British passport holders or those with UK ties may face detention.
Legal limbo
The Foremans have appeared in court multiple times but have not been convicted or formally tried. In her poem, Lindsay Foreman wrote, "We wish that we could be together. To hug and hold each other forever."
For Bennett, the holiday season is "horrendous" without his parents, whom he called "the life and soul of Christmas."
