British Mother and Partner in Iran’s Evin Prison Face Isolation as Son Campaigns for Their Release
For many families, regular phone calls between parents and children are a routine part of life. But for Joe Bennett, these conversations represent a fragile connection to his mother, Lindsay Foreman, who is serving a 10-year sentence in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison alongside her partner Craig. The couple, both 53 years old from East Sussex, were imprisoned on espionage charges against the UK and Israel, despite their insistence they never engaged in such activities.
Struggles in confinement
Joe has observed a significant decline in his mother’s mental state since her imprisonment. During their brief phone calls, which last between two to 20 minutes, she now only ventures out of bed to speak with him. The prison’s strict policies have even reduced their weekly spousal visits to once a month, a change Joe believes is a deliberate tactic to erode their resilience.
‘Every day that passes is another day that chips away at all that resilience they have built up,’ Joe explains, having dedicated his career to advocating for his family’s freedom.
The couple was arrested on January 3, 2025, in Kerman, southern Iran, while embarking on a motorcycle trip around the world to Australia. Their journey, which began in November 2024, was meant to connect them from the UK to Armenia, Pakistan, and beyond. Despite holding valid Iranian visas, a local guide, and an approved travel plan, they were convicted of spying, a claim their legal team and the UK Government argue lacks solid foundation.
Controversy and diplomatic pressure
Joe, who left his tech sales job to focus on their rescue, emphasizes the psychological toll of their detention. ‘Some days they can’t speak and there’s just an inability to function. When your mum is telling you that she’s only getting out of bed to have phone calls, you are worried sick,’ he says. The family’s ordeal is seen as part of a broader strategy to use them as diplomatic pawns, with the couple even denied the chance to defend themselves in a recent court hearing.
Conditions in Evin Prison are described as harsh, with overcrowding and poor facilities exacerbating their distress. Lindsay, a business coach, and Craig, a carpenter, have been held in separate wings, reminiscent of the treatment of British-Iranian activist Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. Joe fears their isolation is not just a result of the charges but also a calculated move to weaken their spirits.
With tensions rising from US-Israeli missile attacks on Iran, the family’s plight has intensified. Joe is set to visit Washington D.C. this week, aiming to appeal to Donald Trump for their release, feeling his government has ‘let him down’ and failed to support his parents in their struggle for justice.
