Government pressing Iran on detained couple

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, are due to appear in court in Iran on Saturday

The government said it is continuing to press Iranian authorities regarding the case of a detained British couple facing espionage charges, ahead of their next court appearance.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were on a motorcycle trip around the world when they were detained by Iranian authorities in January and later charged with espionage – something the family denies.

Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer MP, says the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is "deeply concerned" by the espionage charge.

Mr Falconer said: "We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities."

He said the FCDO are providing the couple "with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members".

The FCDO says it has long advised against travel to Iran for British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention.

The couple are due to appear in court in Iran on Saturday, about a month after they were "suddenly whisked" into court.

Their son Joe Bennett, of Folkestone in Kent, said the pair were enduring "horrific conditions and suffering repeated human rights violations".

A statement from family members said a letter signed by 35 MPs and members of the all-parliamentary group for arbitrary detention and hostage affairs had been sent to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

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