British couple lose Iran jail sentence appeal, family says

A British couple jailed in Iran on espionage charges have lost an appeal against their 10-year sentence, according to their family.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January 2025 while passing through Iran on a round-the-world motorcycle trip.

They were accused of spying - charges they adamantly deny - and were sentenced in February. Both are currently on hunger strike in Tehran's Evin prison.

A member of their legal team in the UK told the BBC no reason was given for the rejection of their appeal. Lindsay's son, Joe Bennett, said they were "not permitted to attend their own appeal hearing".

He added: "It is a serious human rights violation, and it is one more reason why two British citizens, with no other options left, are now starving themselves in protest."

Bennett said his mother and step-father had been asked to sign documents in Farsi which they could not read, and refused.

Barrister Haydee Dijkstal, part of their legal team in the UK, said: "Craig and Lindsay are innocent tourists who are arbitrarily detained and who have had their fundamental rights severely and consistently violated throughout their detention."

Their case has now been passed to the Supreme Court, according to Bennett, although the family do not understand the legal process or the timeline of what might happen next.