A British couple held in Iran since January on espionage charges have reportedly been transferred to two separate prisons – amid fears they have been mistreated and ‘subjected to torture’.
Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both 52, were arrested in Kerman, southern Iran, on January 3, as they embarked on a motorcycle journey around the world to .
The couple had intended to travel from Armenia to Pakistan via Iran when they were intercepted by authorities and detained on unspecified charges.
Their arrests came after ignoring pleas from friends, family and the Foreign Office not to visit the nation before attempting to journey across the entire length of the country.
Foreign Office guidance advises against all travel to Iran, adding that travellers could be arrested just for ‘having a British passport or connections to the UK’.
The couple’s concerned family revealed this week that they have not had any direct contact with them since they were incarcerated, while the Foreign Office said until recent weeks that it could not confirm the couple’s whereabouts.
Now seven months on, it is believed the couple have been separated and moved from a security detention facility in Kerman.
According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Lindsay Foreman was recently transferred to Qarchak Prison, while husband Craig was moved to Greater Tehran Prison.
The two facilities lie more than 20 miles away from each other.
In a statement published yesterday the charity also claimed that during their detention in Kerman the couple were ‘subjected to severe pressure and torture aimed at extracting forced confessions.’
It added that their family has become increasingly concerned about their wellbeing during recent heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
The claims surrounding the couple’s whereabouts and condition come as Lindsay’s eldest son, Joe Bennett, urged the UK government to raise their case with Iranian officials.
Speaking to The Guardian this week, Mr Bennett said: ‘The silence is intolerable, inhumane and a stain on the duty of care that the British government owes its citizens.
‘While other countries are ensuring their citizens’ cases are raised at the highest levels in negotiations with Iran, we are left shouting into the void, writing letters, running social media campaigns, tagging David Lammy and Keir Starmer and hearing nothing.’
He added: ‘It’s hard for me to say with 100% confidence that I know my mum’s alive, and it’s mental to even think to say that, but that is the reality, I haven’t spoken to my mum.’
Following their arrest earlier this year, the country’s authorities released a statement on their plight and also published an image of the couple – with their faces blurred – meeting Hugo Shorter, the British ambassador.
In February, an Iranian government source told The Telegraph that the couple could have been arrested simply for being British, and are being used as bargaining chips to secure concessions from the UK.
The source told the newspaper: ‘They weren’t arrested for committing a crime – they’re British citizens, and that alone is enough to justify their detention and then phone England and ask for something.
‘They likely took photos of something, which has been used as a pretext for their arrest, and now they [the authorities] are trying to get something from England in exchange for their release.
‘We don’t know exactly what’s happening, but demands may have already been made to England for their release.
‘You don’t need to commit a crime – holding a European passport makes you a target here.
‘If you have blue eyes and blonde hair, Iran is not safe for you, whether you’re a tourist or travelling for business.’
Since their arrest, the government has faced increasing pressure to secure their release.
Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of former hostage of Iran Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, previously said that the government ought to ‘respond more promptly.’
‘My heart goes out to them, and I hope they are not in for a long ordeal, and that the government is able to respond more promptly than it did in our case.
‘I do think the risks would be a lot clearer to people if the UK travel advice to Iran talked about the risks of hostage-taking. People would be more alert to the fact that it is not personal, and it doesn’t matter whether you have travelled there with a good heart.’
Craig, a carpenter, and Lindsay, a life coach, had apparently been aware of the risks attached to visiting the nation, but had made up their minds to travel there.
In one of their last posts before their capture, the couple wrote that they were choosing to look past this advice because: ‘We believe that, no matter where you are in the world, most people are good, kind humans striving for a meaningful life.
‘Yes, we’re aware of the risks. But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear.
‘From the vast deserts of Iran to the towering peaks of Pakistan, we hope to share the beauty, hospitality, and humanity that often go unnoticed.’
The couple had previously found fame on the Channel 4 show ‘A New Life in the Sun’, documenting their move from Sussex to a ‘breathtaking’ three-bedroom villa in the Andalusia region of Spain.
They said they wanted to ‘really take advantage of the cheaper cost of living, the wonderful weather, lifestyle and more relaxed pace of life’.
In a post on January 3, after they had crossed into Iran, Lindsay posted a photo of herself with a religious leader, both holding their hands over their hearts.
Capturing the poignant scene, she said: ‘Travel continues to teach me that humanity’s core is shared: kindness, humility, and respect for one another. Sometimes, it’s the quietest moments that leave the loudest impressions.’
In another from the same day, she posted a photo of herself laughing with locals, and praising the ‘one human family’ she had found in her travels.
She added: ‘Travel has a way of reminding you of what really matters. On this journey around the world, we’ve felt a deep sense of connection—and nowhere more so than here in Iran.
‘This journey has taught me that when we strip away our differences, what remains is simple and powerful – our shared humanity. And when we choose to shine, together we can truly light up the world.
‘Let’s focus on what unites us, celebrate each other’s truths, and embrace the beauty of connection.’
A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told the Daily Mail: ‘We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran.
‘We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities.
‘We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.’