Sussex couple detained in Iran allowed to call home for first time
"We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted," he said.Mr Bennett, from Folkestone in Kent, said his parents were "holding strong"."They're resilient, they're positive, and somehow, they're still smiling," he told the BBC.He added that the call had been a "real boost" for everyone, but said it was still a "very traumatic time".
'Hole of despair'
The family were previously told by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that they would be able to speak to their parents, though this did not materialise, Mr Bennett said.It was revealed on Monday that Mr and Ms Foreman had been separated and were being held in what Mr Bennett called "Iran's worst prisons".Craig Foreman's son, Kieran Foreman, said the calls were a "massive relief"."It brings us back up from the hole of despair we have been in – climbing back up from the depths of darkness," he said.
The family said the couple told them that they had access to the most basic of resources.But Mr Bennett told BBC Radio Kent that British officials saw his father was "dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight", while his mother was not walking well due to prison conditions.While Mr Bennett said it was "amazing" to hear their voices, he continued that eyes should be "firmly on the real issues".He called on the British government to recognise them as hostages and indicate what it was going to do to secure their release.
An FCDO spokesperson said it was continuing to raise their case directly with Iran's government."We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members," a spokesperson added.Brendan O'Hara, vice chair of the all-parliamentary group for arbitrary detention and hostage affairs, previously told the BBC that the couple were "innocent victims of a geopolitical power struggle".The Scottish National Party MP likened them to "bargaining chips" between Iran's government and Western states, like the US, UK and Israel.
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South Wales Guardian
33 minutes ago
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Couple make first call home since being detained in Iran
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, of East Sussex, were detained in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world and later charged with espionage. They deny the allegations. Their son Joe Bennett, of Folkestone, Kent, told the BBC he had an eight-minute call with his mother. He said: 'We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted.' He feels his parents are 'holding strong', adding that 'they're resilient, they're positive, and somehow, they're still smiling'. The couple have been separated, are being held in different prisons and have access to basic resources, according to Mr Bennett. He also told BBC Radio Kent that British officials saw his father was 'dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight'. His mother is not walking well due to prison conditions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, not to travel to the Middle Eastern country. A spokesman said: '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.'
Western Telegraph
42 minutes ago
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Couple make first call home since being detained in Iran
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, of East Sussex, were detained in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world and later charged with espionage. They deny the allegations. Their son Joe Bennett, of Folkestone, Kent, told the BBC he had an eight-minute call with his mother. He said: 'We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted.' He feels his parents are 'holding strong', adding that 'they're resilient, they're positive, and somehow, they're still smiling'. Travel advice for Iran (FCDO) The couple have been separated, are being held in different prisons and have access to basic resources, according to Mr Bennett. He also told BBC Radio Kent that British officials saw his father was 'dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight'. His mother is not walking well due to prison conditions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, not to travel to the Middle Eastern country. A spokesman said: '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.'
The Herald Scotland
43 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Couple make first call home since being detained in Iran
They deny the allegations. Their son Joe Bennett, of Folkestone, Kent, told the BBC he had an eight-minute call with his mother. He said: 'We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted.' He feels his parents are 'holding strong', adding that 'they're resilient, they're positive, and somehow, they're still smiling'. Travel advice for Iran (FCDO) The couple have been separated, are being held in different prisons and have access to basic resources, according to Mr Bennett. He also told BBC Radio Kent that British officials saw his father was 'dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight'. His mother is not walking well due to prison conditions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, not to travel to the Middle Eastern country. A spokesman said: '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.'
