British mother jailed in Iran alongside her partner ‘for spying’ is struggling so much she will only get out of bed to take her son’s phone call, he says
British Mother and Partner in Iran Face 10-Year Espionage Sentence, Son Describes Their Daily Struggles
For Joe Bennett, the three-beep dial is more than a mere sound—it’s a lifeline to his mother, Lindsay Foreman, who has been imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison alongside her partner Craig. The couple, both 53, received a 10-year sentence last month for allegedly spying on behalf of the UK and Israel.
Lindsay, a business coach, and Craig, a carpenter, were detained in Kerman, southern Iran, on January 3 while traveling on a motorcycle journey that aimed to take them to Australia. Despite holding Iranian visas, a guide, and a planned route, they were charged with espionage and sentenced to prison. Their legal team and the UK Government have contested the case, arguing it lacks solid evidence.
Joe, who has left his tech sales job to fully advocate for his parents, says their mental health has declined sharply since the verdict. He describes how Lindsay now only leaves her cell to make brief calls, often just to speak with her son. “Some days they can’t speak, and there’s just an inability to function,” he explains. “When your mum tells you she only gets out of bed for phone calls, you’re worried sick.”
Ordeal Intensifies Amid Regional Tensions
Recent US-Israeli missile strikes on Iran have added new pressure to the family’s situation. The attacks, which caused extensive damage, have raised fears that the couple’s sentence could be part of a broader geopolitical strategy. Joe believes the prison system is using their detention as a tool to undermine their morale, with harsh conditions and limited communication exacerbating their distress.
Their incarceration has also disrupted the couple’s routine, as they’re now restricted to fewer visits. Joe claims that the frequency of spousal meetings has been reduced from weekly to monthly, leaving them feeling manipulated. “They build themselves up for a week or two to see each other, only to have it pulled at the last moment,” he says. “No meeting, no explanation. That’s mental torture.”
Currently, Lindsay and Craig are held in separate wings of the prison. Lindsay shares her cell with other women, many of whom are political activists. The overcrowded environment, compounded by poor living conditions, has left them isolated. Joe, who has been campaigning for their release for over a year, plans to appeal to former President Donald Trump for support. “My government has let me down,” he adds. “They’re British citizens who appear to have been abandoned. They’re in real and immediate danger.”
