British couple detained in Iran end hunger strikes
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple detained in Iran on espionage charges, have ended their latest months-long hunger strikes. The couple, both in their early 50s, were seized in January 2025 during a round-the-world motorbike trip and were sentenced in February to a decade in prison. Craig Foreman's term was extended by two years for speaking to the media. They began their most recent hunger strikes in May, protesting the "serious physical toll" of their detention and the overcrowded, unsanitary conditions at Evin Prison in northern Tehran. Their family stated that after almost three months, they ended the strikes, turning the final five days into a "fast for good" to draw attention to their detention and the rights of other prisoners in Iran. This follows a previous month-long hunger strike late last year. United Nations rights experts had warned of serious risks to the couple and suggested their detention could be "hostage-taking." Lindsay Foreman's son, Joe Bennett, emphasized that the immediate focus is on their health, welfare, and securing their release after over 18 months in detention, noting that the closure of the UK embassy on July 22 has made this more challenging.
