Iran Sentences British Couple to 10 Years in Prison, London Calls for Immediate Release
The British public was shocked today, Thursday, February 19, 2026, after a young man announced that a ten-year prison sentence had been handed down to his parents, the couple Lindsey and Craig Foreman, who have been detained in Iran since January 2025 on charges of espionage.
The ruling, which came after a trial that lasted only three hours, sparked sharp condemnation from London, which deemed the decision "completely unjustified."
Joe Bennett, the couple's son, stated:
"My parents were sentenced to ten years in prison at the end of a trial during which they were not allowed to present any defense," emphasizing the difficult situation his parents are facing.
It is noted that Lindsey and Craig Foreman, in their early fifties, were arrested last January while crossing the city of Kerman in central Iran, as part of a round-the-world trip on motorcycles, before being accused by authorities of espionage.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper responded to the ruling, calling it "absolutely horrific and completely unjustified," affirming that the British government will continue to pursue the case tirelessly with Iranian authorities until the couple is safely returned to the United Kingdom to reunite with their family.
The ruling has caused diplomatic tension between London and Tehran, amid calls for increased international pressure to ensure the release of the British couple.
