Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed as part of Trump’s Iran peace deal

Family of British couple in Tehran prison want loved ones freed as part of Trump’s Iran peace deal Craig and Lindsay Foreman feel “stranded” after they lost an appeal against a 10-year sentence in Iran - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The family of a British couple held in Iran are urging Donald Trump to push for a hostage exchange as part of a deal to end the war. Craig and Lindsay Foreman, from East Sussex, were sentenced to 10 years in Tehran’s Evin prison last year after Iran charged them with espionage during a motorcycle trip around the world. They deny the charges. The couple have been on hunger strike for 39 and 30 days respectively, fearing “there is no other way to be heard” having effectively been stranded without legal representation, according to the family. Joe Bennett, Lindsay’s son, said on Wednesday that “any serious framework deal” between United States and Iran must include the fate of foreign detainees as negotiators inch towards a preliminary agreement to end the war, expected on Friday. “Peace cannot just mean quieter borders and open shipping routes. It must mean people coming home,” he said. “We are not asking politicians to play games with this,” he added. “We are asking them to use the diplomatic opening in front of them. “If Iran is now talking to the United States and the international community about de-escalation, sanctions and its future relationship with the world, then the release of arbitrarily detained foreign nationals must be on that table.” “The UK government must not watch from the sidelines. We need urgent, visible, coordinated action with the US administration and G7 allies. Craig and Lindsay need consular access, medical care, regular family contact and a route home. That has to be the bare minimum,” he continued. Deputy PM David Lammy said earlier this month that “arrangements can be made” in response to calls for a prisoner swap, after a joint investigation by The Independent and Sky News uncovered a 15-year campaign by high-ranking Iranian officials to return an aging Iranian stalker held by the UK. Mr Bennett, from Folkestone in Kent, travelled to the United States in March to ask Trump for help, citing his frustrations with the British government. He said British consular staff did not tell his parents that they were leaving Iran a day before the war erupted, and told The Independent that he felt a profound sense of abandonment by the UK. Mr Bennett has said that his parents have been made to sleep on concrete floors or metal bunks with no mattresses, living in overcrowded, unsanitary and vermin-ridden conditions in the prison, which has been filled with protesters from the wave of unrest that swept the country at the start of the year. They are said to have endured threats of execution in prison, witnessed regular knife fights and been left visibly malnourished and suffering from chronic medical neglect in prison. Craig is said to be in agony from untreated dental pain, and both are suffering from chronic medical neglect. Earlier this month, the couple lost their appeal against their sentence, the family said, adding that they had not been allowed to attend the hearing and were made to sign documents in Farsi that they could not read. Mr Bennett said the case had now been referred to Iran's Supreme Court but that the process and timeline remained unclear, adding that the couple were effectively without legal representation. The British government has previously called the Foremans' sentence "totally unjustifiable" and said it would continue to press for their release. The family has criticised the government's response, saying earlier this year the couple were being used as "human shields" during conflict in the region. The family have collected more than 88,000 signatures on a petition demanding action to secure the Foremans’ release. The FCDO was approached for comment. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments