A British woman being held in an Iranian jail cell on alleged espionage charges has been put on a drip as her family’s fears for her health grow ahead of a court hearing today.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 52, were arrested in Kerman, southern Iran, on January 3 as they embarked on a motorcycle trip around the world to Australia.
The couple, from east Sussex, had intended to travel from Armenia to Pakistan via Iran when they were intercepted by authorities and later charged with espionage, allegations their family strongly denies.
They are due to appear in court today in mystery proceedings about which relatives have been told next to no details, as the couple suffer from ‘worse than poor’ jail conditions which are having a ‘harrowing’ impact on their health.
Separated from her husband, Ms Foreman is being kept in Qarchak women’s prison near the Iranian capital Tehran, a hellhole jail criticised for its dire conditions by human rights groups.
Her son Joe Bennett, from Folkestone, Kent, has now said she has recently been put on a drip in her cell, which she shares with 70 other women, but the reason for this is not known.
He has described how the prison is unbearably hot and has frequent power outages and poor food, with his mother given only a metal bunk with no mattress to sleep on.
Meanwhile Mr Foreman has been transferred from Fashafouyeh prison to the notorioous Evin jail, where British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained for almost six years.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman (pictured), both 52, were arrested in Kerman, southern Iran, on January 3, as they embarked on a motorcycle trip around the world to Australia. Now, their devastated family have requested an urgent meeting with the Foreign Secretary
The couple, from east Sussex, had intended to travel from Armenia to Pakistan via Iran when they were intercepted by authorities and later charged with espionage
According to Mr Bennett, his step-father is suffering from a tooth abscess and stomach problems and is sharing a cell with around 40 men.
He told the Times: ‘My mum, we’ve heard most recently, is on a drip. We don’t know why.
‘There are worries medically … they are strong-spirited and they’re coping, but I don’t want that to be normalised. They are in tough, tough environments. It is taking its toll on their bodies. They’re not young. They are resilient.
‘Craig’s complaining about his stomach and ongoing illnesses and he’s got an abscess in his tooth so he’s complaining about dental care. It’s harrowing.’
The couple last appeared in court at separate hearings three weeks ago, but no details of the events or outcome have been given.
Despite the torrid conditions, Mr Bennett is remaining hopeful. ‘We’re just trying to keep positive,’ he said.
He added that relatives and friends are trying to take hope from the recent release of a British couple who had been imprisoned by the Taliban for around eight months.
Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, returned to the UK last week after being taken into custody by the Taliban while carrying out charity work they said had been approved by the dictatorial regime.
The couple’s eldest son, Joe Bennett, of Folkestone, Kent, said his mother is now on a drip and his step-father is suffering from a tooth abscess and stomach issues
They had lived in the country for almost two decades and said on their return that they were never given an explanation for their detention.
Mr Bennett, who has been forefront in campaigning for his mother and step-father’s release, has managed to secure a meeting with the new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on October 16.
Last week the family had a meeting with Iranian ambassador Hugo Shorter, who has visited both Mr and Mrs Foreman in recent weeks and delivered essential supplies.
Before that, Mr Foreman had not been seen by anyone in more than three months.
At the last court hearing, of which the family received no prior notice, it was reportedly ruled that Mr and Mrs Foreman should be allowed to see each other at least once a week.
It is understood that while this has not yet happened, they have been able to communicate with one another over the phone.
