UN experts demand release of British couple held in Iran

UN human‑rights experts Dr Alice Edwards and Mai Sato released a statement accusing Iran of holding British nationals Lindsay and Craig Foreman in breach of basic fair‑trial guarantees and calling for their immediate release.

The couple, from East Sussex, were detained in January 2025 while travelling around the globe on a motorcycle. They maintain their innocence and deny any wrongdoing.

Since the trial, the couple have been imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin jail and, according to the organisation, have gone on a hunger strike after last month’s restriction of phone contact with their family.

After 30 days without food, this is a medical emergency. The UN specialists noted the severe irregularities in their proceedings, describing them as potentially politically motivated.

Dr Edwards is the UN’s special rapporteur on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, while Sato is the rapporteur on human rights in Iran.

The UN experts raised concerns that the Foremans’ detention may be used for leverage, urging Iranian authorities to drop the convictions outright. They asked the UK Government to employ all diplomatic channels.

The Foreign Office confirmed ongoing diplomatic work to secure the couple’s safe return to the UK. The couple’s last consular visit was in December; the family has not seen them since.

They recently lost an appeal against their 10‑year sentence.

Their son, Joe Bennett from Folkestone, criticised the lack of access to the appeal hearing and the Supreme Court’s decision to take over their case.

Deals can be made, sanctions can be discussed, but human beings must not be left behind in prison cells. Joe emphasised that any serious peace framework with Iran must include the release of foreign detainees.

“My mum and Craig are British citizens. They are innocent people caught in a nightmare.”

“Any serious peace framework with Iran must include the fate of foreign detainees.”