Lindsay and Craig Foreman have resorted to a final desperate measure by going on a hunger strike while being held in an Iranian prison on charges of espionage.
Craig is currently in the third week of his hunger strike, a critical phase that can lead to severe damage and organ failure, whereas Lindsay has been on her hunger strike for 11 days. The Mirror has learned that prison guards allegedly played a cruel trick on psychologist Lindsay to discourage her from the hunger strike, causing a delay in her starting the strike compared to her husband.
The couple, originally from East Sussex, were arrested in January 2025 while traveling through Iran and have been held for over 500 days. Despite the UK government declaring them as “innocent tourists,” they have faced harsh conditions in Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison, prompting them to go on a hunger strike. The UK’s Foreign Office advises against travel to Iran due to the country’s history of detaining foreign nationals as bargaining tools on the global stage.
During one of her last conversations with her son Joe Bennett, 32, Lindsay stated, “We are not valuable as hostages if we’re dead, so they’d better open up a channel.” Subsequently, their ability to communicate with family was revoked by prison authorities after they conducted an interview with the BBC, exposing the dire conditions at Evin Prison.
Both 53 years old, the couple have been isolated from each other and their family since starting the hunger strike. Joe mentioned that authorities made significant efforts to discourage Lindsay from continuing the strike, falsely claiming that Craig had stopped his hunger strike.
Joe shared that the couple has endured traumatic conditions in Evin Prison, witnessing executions and experiencing an environment characterized by fear and intimidation. The family’s visit to 10 Downing Street aimed to present a petition with over 84,000 signatures, seeking support for Lindsay and Craig’s release.
Efforts are being made by the British embassy in Iran to reinstate Lindsay and Craig’s communication channels with the help of Iranian authorities. The FCDO spokesperson affirmed ongoing government actions to secure the safe return of the couple to the UK.
Support the campaign to Free Lindsay and Craig by signing the petition, and donating to the GoFundMe