Concern after Sussex couple held in Iran are “whisked” into court

The family of a British couple detained in Iran has requested an urgent meeting with the foreign secretary after the pair were “suddenly whisked” into court.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were taken into custody in January during a motorcycle world tour and later charged with espionage – allegations they deny.

Relatives said they were were informed the couple were taken to a court hearing on Wednesday, but added they were “deeply concerned” they had had no prior knowledge of the hearing and had been given no details since.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it would “continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities”.

The couple’s son Joe Bennett said they had been “suddenly whisked” into court with “a state-appointed lawyer they’d only just met”.

“We cannot see how [this] could be considered to be a fair trial,” said Mr Bennett, of Folkestone in Kent.

He added that the UK ambassador had been due to visit Mr Foreman the same day, but “that did not happen”.

“It has been well over three-and-a-half months since Craig was last seen, and, at that time, he had already lost weight.

“In Iran’s prison system, detainees must rely on money credited to their accounts to buy food, clean water and hygiene products.

“And, as the FCDO has so far been unable to transfer money into Craig’s account, I can only guess at how he must be now.”

The family added that they believe Mrs Foreman did manage to see the UK ambassador on Wednesday and was “provided with a comfort pack of essential supplies”.

Through their adviser Radd Seiger, the family have now requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy to ensure efforts are made to secure the couple’s urgent return to the UK.

An FCDO spokesperson 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 FCDO warns all British and British-Iranian nationals not to travel to Iran due to a “significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention”.