British couple held in Iran moved to separate prisons heightening welfare concerns
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Version 0 of 1. Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained seven months ago on espionage charges while on global motorbike trip A British couple detained in Iran for seven months on espionage charges have been moved to separate prisons in and near Tehran, heightening fears for their welfare, their son said on Monday. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 52 and who previously split their time between south-east England and Spain, were seized in Kerman, in central Iran, in early January while on a round-the-world motorbike trip. Their family have known little about their whereabouts since then, but say they learned on Sunday via the Foreign Office that Lindsay has been transferred to Qarchak women’s prison near the capital. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised the dire conditions reported there. “It’s one of the worst prisons in the world,” Lindsay’s son Joe Bennett told AFP on Monday. His stepdad, Craig, has been moved to Tehran’s infamous central prison, also known as Fashafouyeh, which is about 30km (18 miles) south of the capital and has similar notoriety. Bennett, who has yet to talk to his parents since they were detained more than 200 days ago, called the developments “unbelievably tough”. “Because of where they are, I’m worrying more than I was ever,” he added, urging Iranian authorities to allow British officials fresh access to the couple and to let his parents call home. “You’re just thinking, is she OK,” he said of the seven-month ordeal, adding “it’s like you feel sick all the time”. “I do have confidence in their resilience, they are mentally strong,” Bennett said. But the 31-year-old sales manager, who used to speak to his mum nearly daily, fears overcrowding at their new prisons and that they may be abused, as well as a fallout from their enforced separation. “I believe they will be, together, as strong as possible, but now they’ve been separated … that lifeline has been taken.” The couple, who were on a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip, entered Iran from Armenia and had only intended to stay four days before crossing into Pakistan. Relatives first realised something was wrong when the couple stopped communicating but their messages on WhatsApp and other platforms showed as having been read. Iran then said in February that the Foremans were accused of entering the country “posing as tourists” to gather information. It claimed to have established links between the couple and foreign intelligence services, and that they were being held on “espionage charges”. Bennett dismissed the claim that his parents were spies as “crazy”. “They’re not spies or political players. They are just two people who are travelling around the world.” He also renewed his criticism on Monday of the UK government, saying it felt as if ministers and officials were just going “through the motions” in their response. A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was “deeply concerned” at Iran’s espionage allegations and that it continues to raise the case “directly with the Iranian authorities”. “We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members,” she added. |