Petition for couple in Iran jail sent to government

The son of a British couple detained in Iran has given the government a petition with more than 100,000 signatures asking it to do "everything in its power" to secure their freedom.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while passing through the country on a motorbike trip from Europe to Australia. They were sentenced to 10 years in jail on espionage charges in February, which they deny.

Lindsay's son Joe Bennett, from Kent, was joined by supporters in Westminster after attending Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said the couple's "health and welfare is a top priority".

Alongside the petition, Bennett sent a letter which marked the 656th day his mother and stepfather have been detained. They are being held at Evin Prison in Tehran.

His letter, addressed to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, said: "I am still just a son who misses his mum.

"I am doing everything I can. I am asking you to do everything you can, too."

He told the BBC that Miliband has agreed to a meeting.

The family said that since the FCDO does not accept petitions in person, it was sent by email and a petition box was taken there as a symbolic gesture.

Tony Vaughan, Bennett's local MP for Folkestone and Hythe, asked Prime Minister Andy Burnham during PMQs if a public condemnation of the couple's detention as "arbitrary and unlawful" under international law, and diplomatic protection, could be considered.

"I agree that Lindsay and Craig's sentence is appalling and unjustifiable," Burnham told the Commons Chamber.

"We will continue to pursue the case relentlessly until [they] are safely returned home."

Outside Parliament, Bennett said: "They're calling it unjustifiable, they're calling it appalling, but they still refuse to call it arbitrary.

"I think that is very belittling to my mum and Craig's situation but it's a good step."

Ahead of PMQs, Vaughan told the BBC: "This is getting to a stage where every single thing that can be done has to be done.

"The family are really hurting and Craig and Lindsay are in awful conditions."

The couple went on hunger strike in May when prison authorities prevented them from calling their families.

This lasted 93 and 84 days respectively after being promised regular family contact, which the family later said has not happened.

An FCDO spokesperson told the BBC: "Since [Craig and Lindsay's] arrest last year, Britain's Ambassador to Tehran, along with diplomats and officials in London, have been working to provide consular assistance."

It added that their family had met with the Minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty, and the UK's Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions, Alistair Burt.

"Doughty set out how unjustified and appalling we consider Lindsay and Craig's incarceration to be, and the action that the UK Government is taking to try and secure their release."

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