British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman are imprisoned in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, where they are serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of espionage — charges they strongly deny. The pair, from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while on a round-the-world motorcycle journey, and their case has become one of the most high-profile British detention cases in recent years.

Who Are Craig and Lindsay Foreman?

Craig Foreman, 52, is a carpenter from East Sussex. His wife Lindsay Foreman, 53, is a life coach who holds a doctorate in positive psychology. The couple had been living in Spain following the UK’s departure from the European Union, and in 2024 set out on an ambitious overland motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia.

Lindsay had planned to present research at a conference in Brisbane, Australia, having been asking people along her route what constitutes a “good life.” This academic and personal journey through Central Asia is what led the couple to travel through Iran — a decision that would ultimately result in their arrest and a decade-long prison sentence.

How Were They Arrested in Iran?

Craig and Lindsay crossed from Armenia into Iran by motorcycle in early January 2025, intending to pass through the country for only a few days as part of their broader journey. On 3 January 2025, Iranian authorities arrested them on suspicion of espionage. Both deny any wrongdoing and maintain they were simply tourists passing through.

The couple had been aware of Foreign Office advice warning British nationals against travel to Iran. Lindsay later acknowledged: “Craig and I had assessed the risk and did not think that innocent tourists would end up in prison for this long with no evidence.” Both she and Craig consistently deny being spies or engaging in any activity that could constitute espionage.

Following their arrest, Lindsay spent an initial 57 days in solitary confinement at a detention facility in the city of Kerman. Craig was held separately and was interrogated while blindfolded, which he described as horrific. The couple were later transferred to Tehran’s Evin Prison in the summer of 2025, having initially been told they were being freed.

The Trial and 10-Year Sentence

Craig and Lindsay appeared before Iran’s Revolutionary Court on 27 October 2025, but the hearing lasted just three hours and the couple were not permitted to present a full defence. The judge, Abolghasem Salavati, has previously been sanctioned by the UK, United States, and European Union in connection with alleged human rights violations and for presiding over trials widely criticised for a lack of due process.

On 19 February 2026, the court sentenced both Craig and Lindsay Foreman to 10 years in prison for espionage. The UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, condemned the ruling as “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable” and pledged to pursue the case relentlessly. Following the sentence, the couple went on hunger strike in protest at their continued detention.

Life Inside Evin Prison

Craig and Lindsay are held in separate sections of Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran’s most notorious detention facility. Lindsay is housed in the women’s wing, where she sleeps on a metal bunk in a cell with no English-speaking cellmates. Craig is held alongside other foreign nationals, including citizens of Ecuador, Germany, and Romania.

Prison conditions are described by the couple as deeply difficult. Craig has stated that during his time in Evin, four of his cellmates have been taken away and later executed by the Iranian state, with the executions broadcast on state television the following day. One of Lindsay’s cellmates was sentenced to death in connection with nationwide protests that the Iranian government suppressed with lethal force.

The couple also endured intense fear during the US-Israeli strikes on Iran in early 2026, with Lindsay describing an explosion so close to the prison that windows were blown out. Consular visits have since ceased following the temporary closure of the British embassy in Tehran, and the couple rely on monitored phone calls routed through the Foreign Office for contact with their son, Joe Bennett.

In a BBC interview published on 1 May 2026, the first time the couple had spoken jointly to the media, Craig was heard encouraging Lindsay saying: “We will do this. We will get through it together.” For more about Evin Prison, read our dedicated guide to Evin Prison in Tehran.

The UK Government Response and Ongoing Campaign

The UK government has repeatedly condemned the detention and sentencing of Craig and Lindsay Foreman. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has described their incarceration as appalling and unjustifiable, and the Foreign Office facilitates monitored phone calls between the couple and their son through Evin Prison payphones.

Craig has made a direct public appeal to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the government to take stronger action and speak out on their behalf. The couple’s family has taken their campaign to Washington, and a public motorcycle ride-out to Parliament is planned for 20 May 2026 in support of their release. Their campaign website, FreeLindayAndCraig.com, continues to attract public attention and support.

Human rights organisations including Amnesty International have condemned their detention. The couple are widely considered by legal experts and human rights groups to be wrongfully detained state hostages. If you need to contact a loved one in prison — whether in the UK or abroad — our guide on how to contact someone in prison may be of assistance. You can also read about the UK Parole Board for broader context on the UK justice system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Craig and Lindsay Foreman in prison?

Craig and Lindsay Foreman are imprisoned in Iran after being convicted of espionage by Iran’s Revolutionary Court. They were sentenced to 10 years each in February 2026. Both deny the charges and are considered wrongfully detained by the UK government and international human rights organisations.

Where are Craig and Lindsay Foreman being held?

Craig and Lindsay Foreman are both held in Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran. They are kept in separate sections of the prison. Lindsay is in the women’s wing and Craig is held with other foreign nationals. Evin Prison is considered one of the most notorious detention facilities in the world.

What did Craig and Lindsay Foreman do?

Craig and Lindsay Foreman did not commit any crime, according to the UK government and their own consistent statements. They were tourists on a round-the-world motorcycle trip who crossed into Iran from Armenia in January 2025. Iran alleges they were engaged in espionage, which the couple strongly and consistently deny.

What is the UK government doing to free Craig and Lindsay Foreman?

The UK Foreign Secretary has condemned the sentence as unjustifiable and the government facilitates monitored phone calls between the couple and their family. Consular visits have ceased since the British embassy in Tehran closed during the 2026 conflict. The couple and their family continue to call on the government to take stronger public action.

How long have Craig and Lindsay Foreman been in prison?

Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been detained in Iran since 3 January 2025, meaning they had been held for over 16 months as of May 2026. They were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in February 2026. They are considered unlawfully detained civilians by the UK government and human rights groups.