Family of Detained UK Couple Urges Government Action at No 10

The family of a British couple detained in Iran has delivered a petition to Number 10 Downing Street, urging the UK Government to increase efforts for their release. Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January 2023 while on a motorcycle tour around the world and have since faced allegations of espionage, which they deny. The couple remains in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, where their son, Joe Bennett, is advocating for their freedom.

Accompanied by former detainee Anoosheh Ashoori and Richard Ratcliffe, who campaigned for the release of his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Bennett handed over the petition, which has garnered over 70,000 signatures. Speaking to reporters, he expressed the urgency of the situation, saying, “This is not something we want to celebrate, but we are here to ensure there is as much publicity and pressure as possible.”

Bennett emphasized the need for the Government to demonstrate commitment to securing the couple’s release. He stated, “Ultimately, I need to know that they are working as hard as they can to get them home.” He described the number of signatures as a clear indication of public sentiment against what he termed an “arbitrary detention.”

The petition was presented following a performance by a choir of supporters, who sang a rendition of “Stand By Me.” As Bennett remarked, every day his parents remain imprisoned “chisels away at their mental and physical health.” He urged the Government to publicly acknowledge that holding the couple on charges of espionage is “barbaric.”

In the context of ongoing unrest in Iran, protests have erupted over inflation and the devaluation of the Iranian rial, which has hit a record low against the US dollar. Reports indicate that at least ten people have died amid the demonstrations, which have met with violent responses from security forces. Bennett noted that the political climate in Iran adds a layer of uncertainty to their situation.

He commented, “We don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing – that is the problem.” While he remains in contact with his family, he described their situation as increasingly dire. Bennett shared that his parents are “being as brave as possible,” but their health is deteriorating.

“My mum is the most important person in the world to me, and when you hear her down, dejected, crying, and begging to come home, it is hard to take,” he said. He expressed concern over how the ongoing protests and potential regime changes in Iran might impact his parents’ ability to secure help upon release.

In solidarity with the detained couple and the ongoing protests in Iran, a rally was held outside Downing Street. The Association of Anglo-Iranian Women in the UK called for a public demand from the British Government to end the crackdown on protesters and halt executions in Iran.

As tensions rise both domestically and internationally, the plight of the Foremans remains in the spotlight, with their family and supporters committed to advocating for their release.