A British couple held in solitary confinement in Iran since January on espionage charges was beaten, deprived of sleep and threatened with execution, a source familiar with the matter told Iran International.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were recently moved to the Gharchak Women’s Prison and the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary, added the source familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity citing security concerns.
The couple had been held by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence for the past seven months.
According to the source, the couple were subjected to torture including sleep depravation, beating and threats of execution by security agents seeking to extract confessions but have maintained their innocence.
The couple, both in their 50s, entered Iran from Armenia during a motorcycle world tour. After visiting Tabriz, Tehran and Isfahan, they planned to travel to Kerman.
On January 4, 2025, they were arrested on their way to city of Kerman and charged with spying. Britain has rejected the charges and demanded their release.
The UK foreign office said the couple was receiving consular assistance in response to a request for comment by Iran International.
“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," it said in a statement.
“We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.”
Iran has long detained and convicted foreign nationals in a bid for to gain financial or political concessions from foreign powers.
Tehran has consistently denied that the detentions are politically motivated.
