Latest news with #LindsayForeman
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Son of Brit couple Craig & Lindsay Foreman detained in Iran for 150 days on spying charges reveals shock at arrests
THE young son of a British couple imprisoned in Iran on spying charges has revealed how devastated he was after hearing of his parents' arrest. Husband and wife Craig and Lindsay Foreman have spent almost 150 days in jail since being detained during a round-the-world motorbike trip. 8 Craig and Lindsay Foreman have spent almost 150 days in an Iranian jail since being arrested on spy charges Credit: Rex 8 Ever since their incarceration, the pair have hardly spoken to their loved ones and mainly had contact with the Foreign Office Credit: Rex 8 The British couple had been on a round-the-world motorcycle trip Credit: Facebook/PPK2K RTW Motorcycle Mission The Brits entered Iran despite being warned by the Foreign Office and their family to avoid passing through the notoriously strict state. The couple, both in their 50s, were held back in January on unspecified espionage charges. The Iranian government continues to claim they were 'posing as tourists' to gather intelligence against the Middle East nation. Ever since their incarceration, the pair have hardly spoken to their loved ones and mainly had contact with the Foreign Office. Now the teenage son of Craig, a carpenter, and wife Dr Lindsay, a life coach, has revealed how hard the past few months have been on the family. Anxious Toby said Foreign Office officials visited his mum on Tuesday and handed her a letter from her closest loved ones back home. He told the Mirror: 'There was a visit yesterday day. Someone from the Foreign Office, checking if she's okay. "We have been able to pass on a message to the Foreign Office, everyone wrote a letter to give them to them, but we don't know what they received. 'We just don't want to make things worse. We're waiting to see if anything big happens over the next few months.' The 19-year-old university student described hearing about his parent's arrest as a "real shock". My dad has been sentenced to death in Iran on trumped-up charges and faces imminent execution - we must save him He said: 'Everyone in the family is dealing with it in different ways. I had never heard about English people being detained out there. 'I thought there was more of a security concern with them taking relatively expensive bikes out there. 'We were not expecting for them to get detained." Toby is holding on to hope that due to his mum's long career in psychiatry she will be able to cope with her prison stretch as best as possible and help Craig too. At the time of Craig and Linday's arrest a spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary said: "These individuals were cooperating with covert institutions linked to the intelligence services of hostile Western countries under the guise of investigative and research activities. "According to the observations of intelligence and security institutions, the connection of these individuals with several institutions affiliated with intelligence services has been confirmed, and additional investigations are ongoing in this regard." The judiciary spokesperson also said the pair "were monitored with the cooperation of security agencies and arrested". The pair first travelled into Iran from Armenia on December 30, and reportedly planned to leave by January 4, as they headed for Australia. 8 The pair shared pictures of them in Iran before their arrest Credit: Facebook/PPK2K RTW Motorcycle Mission 8 Brit couple Craig & Lindsay Foreman (whose faces were blurred) meeting British ambassador Hugo Shorter Credit: X/Iran Nuances 8 The couple were warned not to travel to Iran by their family and friends Credit: Rex While in Iran they visited Tabriz, the capital Tehran, and Isfahan before staying in Kerman. It was here where they were picked up by police and arrested. At the time, the Foreign Office said the couples arrest had "caused significant concern". The couple, who had previously been featured on Channel 4's A New Life in the Sun, had ignored pleas from friends, family and the Foreign Office (FCDO) not to enter Iran. FCDO guidance explicitly warns against all travel to the country, cautioning that British citizens could be arrested simply for their nationality. Brits 'face torture and years in hellhole jail' on 'fabricated' espionage charges CRAIG and Lindsay Foreman could be left to languish in a hellhole jail for years, sources fear. Insiders believe Iran's merciless leaders have made a "fabricated case" to use Craig and Lindsay as pawns in their sick game to get Western countries to give in to their demands. United Against Nuclear Iran's (UANI) policy director Jason Brodsky told The Sun while they are unlikely to face execution, they could be jailed for years and face torture. He said: "Iran uses hostage diplomacy as a means to extract concessions from Europe and the United States. "Hostages have languished for years behind bars in Iran. "The Iranian regime has executed dual-nationals previously, or those with Iranian citizenship in addition to American or European nationality. "Since the Foremans do not have dual-nationality, an execution is unlikely but the danger of harm remains. "The Iranian regime employs both psychological and physical torture methods depending on the situation." Insiders and campaigners say it is likely the couple were arrested simply for being British. It is feared they have been taken "hostage" to put pressure on the UK. Hossein Abedini of the National Council of Resistance told The Sun: "All of these actions are aimed at gaining leverage from the country to which the hostages belong therefore, any verdicts could arise. "This is a repetitive process that has occurred many times, but due to the concessions made by the West, the regime assesses this as a profitable business." Despite this, the pair acknowledged the extreme risk in a social media post on December 30. It read: 'Despite the advice of friends, family, and the FCDO (which strongly advises against travel to Iran for British nationals), we've chosen to keep moving forward. 'Why? 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. '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.' The UK government has been urged to act quickly to try and free the pair. Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was imprisoned in Iran for six years, urged officials to move faster than they did in her case. He said: '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." 8 The couple previously featured in Channel 4's A New Life In The Sun show Credit: Channel 4
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Son of Brit couple Craig & Lindsay Foreman detained in Iran for 150 days on spying charges reveals shock at arrests
THE young son of a British couple imprisoned in Iran on spying charges has revealed how devastated he was after hearing of his parents' arrest. Husband and wife Craig and Lindsay Foreman have spent almost 150 days in jail since being detained during a round-the-world motorbike trip. 8 8 8 The Brits entered Iran despite being warned by the Foreign Office and their family to avoid passing through the notoriously strict state. The couple, both in their 50s, were held back in January on unspecified espionage charges. The Iranian government continues to claim they were 'posing as tourists' to gather intelligence against the Middle East nation. Ever since their incarceration, the pair have hardly spoken to their loved ones and mainly had contact with the Foreign Office. Now the teenage son of Craig, a carpenter, and wife Dr Lindsay, a life coach, has revealed how hard the past few months have been on the family. Anxious Toby said Foreign Office officials visited his mum on Tuesday and handed her a letter from her closest loved ones back home. He told the Mirror: 'There was a visit yesterday day. Someone from the Foreign Office, checking if she's okay. "We have been able to pass on a message to the Foreign Office, everyone wrote a letter to give them to them, but we don't know what they received. 'We just don't want to make things worse. We're waiting to see if anything big happens over the next few months.' The 19-year-old university student described hearing about his parent's arrest as a "real shock". My dad has been sentenced to death in Iran on trumped-up charges and faces imminent execution - we must save him He said: 'Everyone in the family is dealing with it in different ways. I had never heard about English people being detained out there. 'I thought there was more of a security concern with them taking relatively expensive bikes out there. 'We were not expecting for them to get detained." Toby is holding on to hope that due to his mum's long career in psychiatry she will be able to cope with her prison stretch as best as possible and help Craig too. At the time of Craig and Linday's arrest a spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary said: "These individuals were cooperating with covert institutions linked to the intelligence services of hostile Western countries under the guise of investigative and research activities. "According to the observations of intelligence and security institutions, the connection of these individuals with several institutions affiliated with intelligence services has been confirmed, and additional investigations are ongoing in this regard." The judiciary spokesperson also said the pair "were monitored with the cooperation of security agencies and arrested". The pair first travelled into Iran from Armenia on December 30, and reportedly planned to leave by January 4, as they headed for Australia. 8 8 8 While in Iran they visited Tabriz, the capital Tehran, and Isfahan before staying in Kerman. It was here where they were picked up by police and arrested. At the time, the Foreign Office said the couples arrest had "caused significant concern". The couple, who had previously been featured on Channel 4 's A New Life in the Sun, had ignored pleas from friends, family and the Foreign Office (FCDO) not to enter Iran. FCDO guidance explicitly warns against all travel to the country, cautioning that British citizens could be arrested simply for their nationality. Brits 'face torture and years in hellhole jail' on 'fabricated' espionage charges CRAIG and Lindsay Foreman could be left to languish in a hellhole jail for years, sources fear. Insiders believe Iran's merciless leaders have made a "fabricated case" to use Craig and Lindsay as pawns in their sick game to get Western countries to give in to their demands. United Against Nuclear Iran's (UANI) policy director Jason Brodsky told The Sun while they are unlikely to face execution, they could be jailed for years and face torture. He said: "Iran uses hostage diplomacy as a means to extract concessions from Europe and the United States. "Hostages have languished for years behind bars in Iran. "The Iranian regime has executed dual-nationals previously, or those with Iranian citizenship in addition to American or European nationality. "Since the Foremans do not have dual-nationality, an execution is unlikely but the danger of harm remains. "The Iranian regime employs both psychological and physical torture methods depending on the situation." Insiders and campaigners say it is likely the couple were arrested simply for being British. It is feared they have been taken "hostage" to put pressure on the UK. Hossein Abedini of the National Council of Resistance told The Sun: "All of these actions are aimed at gaining leverage from the country to which the hostages belong therefore, any verdicts could arise. "This is a repetitive process that has occurred many times, but due to the concessions made by the West, the regime assesses this as a profitable business." Despite this, the pair acknowledged the extreme risk in a social media post on December 30. It read: 'Despite the advice of friends, family, and the FCDO (which strongly advises against travel to Iran for British nationals), we've chosen to keep moving forward. 'Why? 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. '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.' The UK government has been urged to act quickly to try and free the pair. Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was imprisoned in Iran for six years, urged officials to move faster than they did in her case. He said: '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." 8 8
Fox News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Two Britons detained in Iran charged with spying, Iranian judiciary says
Two British nationals detained in Iran have been charged with espionage after they allegedly gathered information in different parts of the country, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency reported on Tuesday. The two were named as Craig and Lindsay Foreman, and their family said on Saturday they were engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the pair's well-being and safe return home. "The detained individuals entered the country as tourists and collected information in several provinces of the country," Mizan said, without giving further details. British media have said they are a married couple. Mizan cited a judicial official as saying the two were connected to intelligence services and that investigations into the alleged links were ongoing. The British Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday that it was deeply concerned by the reports, and that it continued to raise the case directly with Iranian authorities. "We are providing them (the two British nationals) with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members," the Foreign Office added. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of foreigners and dual nationals in recent years, mostly on espionage and security-related charges. Human rights groups and some Western countries have accused Iran of trying to win concessions from other nations through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up. Tehran denies such accusations.
Voice of America
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Iran charges British couple with spying
A British couple detained in Iran last month has been charged with spying, Iran's state media reported Tuesday. Britain's Foreign Office has identified the couple as Craig and Lindsay Foreman. "The detained individuals entered the country as tourists and collected information in several provinces of the country," reported Iran's judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency. Iran has accused the couple of having connections with "hostile countries." "We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran," a British Foreign Office spokesman said Tuesday. "We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities." The Associated Press reported that Hugo Shorter, Britain's ambassador to Iran, has met with the couple in the southern city of Kerman, where they are jailed, with Iranian government officials in attendance. The Foreign Office said it is providing the couple with consular assistance and is in close contact with their family. The couple's family said in a statement on Saturday, after the couple's arrest, "This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time." The family said it is "united on our determination to secure their safe return." The two were traveling around the world on motorbikes, according to an AP report, which said that they crossed Armenia's border into Iran on December 30. Iran has long used Western detainees to gain concessions in negotiations with Western countries, a move Tehran denies. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse.
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
British couple charged with espionage in Iran
A undated handout picture released by the family of Craig and Lindsay Foreman through Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London on February 15, 2025. PHOTO: AFP Listen to article Iran has charged British nationals Craig and Lindsay Foreman with espionage, alleging that they collaborated with Western intelligence agencies, the country's judiciary announced on Tuesday. According to judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir, the couple entered Iran under the guise of tourists and were gathering intelligence before their arrest in Kerman province last month. Iran's judiciary-run Mizan Online quoted Kerman's chief justice, Ebrahim Hamidi, as saying: "Their links to foreign intelligence services have been confirmed. Additional investigations are still ongoing." Jahangir also stated that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was responsible for taking the Foremans into custody on espionage charges. The UK Foreign Office confirmed on Friday that it was providing consular support to two British nationals detained in Iran and was in contact with Iranian authorities regarding their case. The BBC reported that the Foremans, both in their early 50s, were on a motorbike journey across the world when they were arrested. Their social media posts indicate that they entered Iran from Armenia in December, with plans to travel to Australia. Last week, British Ambassador Hugo Shorter met with the couple at the Kerman prosecutor's office, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency, which published a photo of the meeting with their faces blurred. The British government has long warned against all travel to Iran, citing the risk of arbitrary detention. Iran has detained several European nationals in recent years, often in high-profile espionage cases that have led to prisoner exchanges with Western nations. In January 2023, Iran executed British-Iranian dual citizen Alireza Akbari, convicted of spying for the UK, a move that drew international condemnation. Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested in December 2023 but was released in January 2024, just days before Italy freed an Iranian national, Mohammad Abedini, accused by the US of violating sanctions and supplying drone technology to Iran's military. French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been jailed since May 2022, also on espionage charges. In June 2023, Iran released two Swedish nationals, including a European Union diplomat, in exchange for a former Iranian official held in Sweden—a swap mediated by Oman. Oman has played a key role in brokering prisoner swaps between Iran and Western nations, including securing the 2023 release of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who had been convicted of espionage and spent over a year in custody. Western concerns Iran has repeatedly denied using detained foreign nationals as leverage but has also engaged in multiple diplomatic negotiations for prisoner swaps. Western nations, including the UK, US, and EU, have condemned Iran's detention practices, calling them a form of hostage diplomacy. As Craig and Lindsay Foreman face serious espionage charges, their case adds to the growing tensions between Iran and Western countries over detentions, sanctions, and security concerns. The UK government continues to seek consular access and remains in contact with Iranian authorities as the situation develops.
