Iran extends British prisoner Craig Foreman's sentence by two years, family says

A British man jailed in Iran has had two further years added to his prison sentence, according to his family. Craig Foreman was told of the extra punishment after being brought before a judge in Tehran, the family said. The development comes more than a year after he and his wife, Lindsay Foreman, were detained while travelling through Iran on a motorcycle journey from Europe to Australia.

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Family members said Craig Foreman had been told he was being taken to see his lawyer, but was instead brought before a judge and informed of the additional sentence. Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son and a family spokesperson, said his father was given no lawyer, no translator and no chance to defend himself. The family said the new sentence was linked to speaking to the media from his cell in Evin prison.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman were each previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in February after being accused of spying, an allegation they deny. The family said both have been on hunger strike since May, after prison authorities stopped them from calling relatives. It also said it is increasingly worried about their health.

A human rights group based in the United States said last week that Craig Foreman had lost about 16kg, while Lindsay Foreman was suffering from dizziness and body tremors. The case has drawn attention because it involves foreign nationals held in Iran's prison system and allegations of serious procedural failings. The family says a letter asking the couple to end their hunger strike was not delivered, and that medication and other basic supplies were also withheld.

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Last month, two United Nations human rights experts called on Iran to release the couple, saying the proceedings against them had been marked by grave irregularities. Craig and Lindsay Foreman were arrested in January 2025 while passing through Iran on a long-distance motorcycle trip. Their case has become part of a wider pattern of concern among rights groups and relatives of detainees about access to legal representation, translation and contact with family members.

The family says the latest sentence extension has deepened fears about the couple's treatment and their ability to recover while in custody. What remains unclear is the formal basis for the extra two-year sentence and whether Craig Foreman has any immediate route to appeal. The family is appealing to the Iranian authorities to show mercy and release both detainees.

Their condition, and whether they will be allowed proper legal access and medical care, is likely to remain the main focus in the coming days.

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