Global leaders urged to help couple detained in Iran

Joe Bennett has traveled to Washington to appeal to international leaders for assistance in securing the release of his mother and her partner, who remain imprisoned in Iran. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, residents of East Sussex, were arrested during their global motorbike journey in January 2025. Following their detention, they were sentenced to ten years in prison in what their family has condemned as a “sham trial.”

Addressing a gathering at the McCain Institute, Bennett emphasized the urgency of the case, calling on the global community to see it as a challenge for both Western civilization and the world at large. Speaking at Capitol Hill, he shared his emotional struggles, stating, “There are days when you don’t want to show up, but you have to keep going. It’s heartbreaking that in this day and age this is still happening.” At the US-UK Transatlantic Conference on Hostage-Taking and Arbitrary Detention, he also criticized the UK government for their perceived lack of support, describing their advocacy efforts as “non-existent.”

Bennett expressed frustration with the government’s approach, accusing them of avoiding accountability when things go wrong. He remarked, “I know that Keir Starmer will be on the tarmac when they come home if he’s still in power to shake their hand but he has never once said their name.” He voiced limited optimism regarding proposals for a new special envoy role, concerned that it remains constrained by the Foreign Office’s influence. Additionally, Bennett highlighted the UK government’s slow response upon learning of the Foremans’ sentencing, noting that the family was the first to inform officials after British embassy staff departed Tehran.

According to Bennett, the support offered remotely by consular services has been insufficient, and British officials have failed to utilize communication channels accessible to the family. He further stated that the government has demonstrated “no willingness” to directly communicate with his parents about ongoing efforts toward their release. Bennett hopes that his participation in the Washington event will foster stronger collaboration among countries such as the US, Germany, and the UK.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been contacted for comment. In a previous statement, the FCDO emphasized the importance of the welfare of British nationals detained abroad, calling the Foremans’ sentences “completely appalling and totally unjustifiable.” The statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing their case “relentlessly” until their safe return to the UK. The FCDO also confirmed ongoing consular assistance to the Foreman family and reiterated its long-standing advice against British and British-Iranian nationals traveling to Iran because of the risk of arbitrary detention

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