Craig Foreman’s family said they were left “absolutely flabbergasted” after they learned the Brit jailed in Iran was handed an extra two years for allegedly speaking to the media from prison
A Brit jailed in Iran has had two years added to his 10-year sentence after speaking to the media from prison, according to his family.
Craig Foreman and his wife, Lindsay, are each serving 10-year jail terms after they were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran on a motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia. The couple were convicted of espionage – the secret gathering of information to benefit a foreign state – which they both deny
Relatives of Craig now say he has been told his sentence was extended after speaking to the media from his cell in Tehran’s Evin Prison.
Lindsay Foreman’s son and family spokesperson, Joe Bennett, said: “We understand he was told he was being taken to see his lawyer but was instead brought before a judge and informed of the additional sentence.”
He claimed Craig was denied a lawyer, translator and any opportunity to defend himself. Joe added: “He was told the two years had been added because he had spoken to the press. We didn’t think we could be any more shocked at their appalling treatment, but in this case we are absolutely flabbergasted.”
The latest apparent sentence extension came after the couple launched a hunger strike in May following the failure of an appeal. According to their family, Craig stopped eating in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison on May 9, with Lindsay joining him nine days later. They have since lost a significant amount of weight and all communication with them has been cut off by the Iranian authorities, the family said.
Last week, US-based human rights group HRANA said Craig had lost around 16kg (35lb), while Lindsay was suffering from dizziness and body tremors.
The family also said a letter urging the pair to end their hunger strike had never reached them, while medication and other basic supplies had also failed to arrive. Joe Bennett said: “My mum and Craig are 18 months into an ordeal they should never have known.”
“They are weak, they are hungry, and now Craig is being punished simply for being heard. To add two more years to an innocent man’s sentence, in secret and with no chance to defend himself, is a flagrant abuse of the most basic rights any person is owed.”
The family’s legal team said Craig’s additional sentence would be included in a formal complaint submitted to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Haydee Dijkstal, a member of the Foremans’ legal team, said the couple’s detention amounted to “arbitrary detention under three of the UN Working Group’s legal criteria” and argued it “lacks a legal basis, that their fundamental right to a fair trial has been gravely violated, and that their detention is a violation of international law”.
The family previously urged the Iranian authorities to “show mercy” and allow the couple to return home, while also calling on the British Ambassador to Tehran, Hugo Shorter, to intervene. They had also called on the UK government to facilitate a prisoner swap involving convicted Iranian stalker Richard Jan, who has been dubbed the UK’s “worst stalker”.
However, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told Sky News last month that while “arrangements can be made of that kind” the specifics on this would not be right”.
A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said it was “urgently following up with the Iranian authorities about the reported increased sentence”.