British couple held on espionage charges in Iran face worsening health as court hearing looms

A British woman being held in an Iranian jail on alleged espionage charges has been put on a drip as her family fears for her health ahead of a court hearing. Lindsay Foreman, 52, is being held in Qarchak prison, a facility northeast of Tehran, where she shares a cell with about 70 other women. Her husband, Craig Foreman, 52, has been transferred from Fashafouyeh prison to Evin prison, the Tehran complex long known for housing many high-profile detainees, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe during her six-year detention.

The couple, from East Sussex, were arrested on January 3 in Kerman in southern Iran as they embarked on a motorcycle journey around the world to Australia. They had intended to travel from Armenia to Pakistan via Iran when authorities intercepted them and later charged them with espionage, allegations their family has repeatedly denied. They are due to appear in court today in what relatives describe as opaque proceedings, with details of the case provided to them in scant and inconsistent fashion.

The forebears of the couple have said the conditions inside Qarchak are dire: extreme heat, power outages, and substandard food, with Lindsay Foreman reportedly sleeping on a bare metal bunk without a mattress. Her son, Joe Bennett, who lives in Folkestone, Kent, said his mother was recently placed on a drip in her cell, though the reason remains unknown. He described the prison as overcrowded and the environment as “harrowing,” with health concerns mounting for both parents.

“People are trying to stay positive, but this is taking a toll on their bodies,” Bennett told local media. He said his stepfather has stomach problems and an existing tooth abscess, and is sharing a cell with around 40 men. The family’s urgency was underscored by the absence of concrete information about the trial or its timing, despite a prior court appearance by the couple three weeks earlier.

The Times quoted Bennett as saying his mother had a drip recently, and that there was no clear explanation for its use. He added that the family has sought medical information and access to the couple, noting that the couple’s health is deteriorating in what he described as “tough, tough environments.” He stressed that Lindsay and Craig are not young, but they have shown resilience under demanding conditions.

Images of the couple captured during happier times accompany this report and illustrate the contrast between their prior life and their current predicament.

In recent weeks, the family has pressed for greater transparency from Iranian authorities, seeking an urgent meeting with the U.K. Foreign Secretary to convey the family’s concerns and to press for consular access and reliable information about the case. They were told that Lindsay and Craig Foreman would be allowed to see each other at least once a week, a concession reportedly issued at the last hearing, but family members say this has not yet occurred and that phone contact has been the primary link between the couple and their relatives.

The family’s plight has drawn some comparative attention in Britain. Bennett has pointed to the release of a British couple who had been detained by the Taliban for about eight months as a source of guarded optimism, while acknowledging that the Iranian case is distinct and no parallel can be drawn. He noted that the wider diplomatic environment is unsettled and that the family continues to push for a meeting with the foreign secretary on October 16.

Iranian authorities previously permitted at least some contact through a meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hugo Shorter, who has visited both Foreman family members in recent weeks and delivered essential supplies. Before that, Lindsay and Craig Foreman had not been seen by relatives for more than three months, according to the family.

The couple’s case has attracted attention to the broader issue of treatment of foreign detainees in Iran, particularly those charged with espionage in opaque legal settings. Advocates have long warned about harsh conditions in some Iranian detention facilities and the potential for health to deteriorate rapidly in crowded cells. The Foreman family has urged the U.K. government to secure timely and transparent access to the couple and to press for due process in alignment with international norms.

Last week, Bennett said the family hoped to secure a fresh engagement with policymakers and to use the visit to relay the intensity of the couple’s health concerns. The family has emphasized that their priority is to ensure Lindsay and Craig receive appropriate medical attention and that their legal rights are respected as authorities pursue the matter.

The situation remains fluid, with no official update on the court date beyond the stated appearance today and no detailed account of the proceedings to date. Yet the Foreman family’s accounts, reinforced by corroborating reports from associates and advocacy groups, depict a harsh environment that is taking a toll on the couple’s health. Authorities have not publicly detailed the charges beyond the espionage claim, and relatives say they have received limited information about evidence and the status of the case.

As the world watches the case unfold, advocates say it underscores the need for due process and humane treatment for all detainees abroad. The Foremans’ supporters stress that the couple’s health and well-being should be safeguarded irrespective of the allegations and call for consistent communications from Iranian authorities and consular representatives to keep families informed during what is described as a stressful and disorienting legal process. The family’s ongoing campaign will continue as they await further developments from London and Tehran.