Iran Charges British Couple with Espionage, Accusing Them of Collaborating with Western Intelligence Services
TEHRAN: Iran has charged British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman with espionage, accusing them of collaborating with western intelligence services, following their arrest last month, the judiciary said today.
The Arrest and Charges
According to Judiciary Spokesman Asghar Jahangir, the pair entered Iran "posing as tourists" and gathered information before their arrest in the southeastern province of Kerman. The judiciary’s Mizan Online website quoted Kerman Chief Justice Ebrahim Hamidi as saying the couple’s links to foreign intelligence services had been confirmed.
"Additional investigations are still ongoing," Hamidi added.
Jahangir was quoted as saying they had been taken into custody by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on "espionage charges".
The Foremans’ Motorbike Trip
The BBC had reported that the couple were in their early 50s and on a motorbike trip around the world when they were detained in January. According to social media posts, they crossed into Iran from Armenia in December and were gradually making their way to Australia.
Europeans Held in Iran
On Friday, Britain’s foreign office said it was "providing consular assistance to two British nationals detained in Iran" and was in contact with Iranian authorities. Last week, Iran’s official Irna news agency said British Ambassador Hugo Shorter met with the couple at the Kerman prosecutor’s office. The agency also published a photo of the meeting, with the couple’s faces blurred.
The UK government advises against all travel to Iran.
Prisoner Exchanges and Detainees
Several other Europeans are held in custody in Iran, which has conducted multiple prisoner exchanges with western governments in recent years. In January 2023, Iran announced the execution of British-Iranian dual citizen Alireza Akbari, prompting outrage among western governments including Britain which called it "barbaric". Akbari had been convicted of spying for Britain.
In January, Iran released Italian journalist Cecilia Sala who was arrested the month before for "violating the law of the Islamic Republic". Her release came days before Italy freed Iranian national Mohammad Abedini, who was arrested in Milan in December at the behest of the US. Iran had denied any link between Sala’s and Abedini’s cases.
French couple Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been jailed since May 2022 on charges of espionage, a capital offence in Iran. In June, Iran released two Swedes, one of them a European Union diplomat, in exchange for a former official held in Sweden, in a swap mediated by Oman. In 2023, Oman also brokered the release of six European detainees in Iran, including Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who had been convicted of espionage and spent more than a year in custody.
Conclusion
The detention of Craig and Lindsay Foreman highlights the ongoing challenges and risks faced by Western nationals traveling to Iran. The country’s record on human rights and prisoner treatment has been a subject of concern for many years, and the recent execution of Alireza Akbari is a stark reminder of the harsh punishment that can be meted out in Iran.
FAQs
- What are the charges against Craig and Lindsay Foreman?
The couple has been charged with espionage, accused of collaborating with western intelligence services. - How did they enter Iran?
According to the judiciary, they entered Iran "posing as tourists" and gathered information before their arrest. - What is the British government’s response?
The UK government is providing consular assistance to the couple and is in contact with Iranian authorities. - How many Europeans are held in Iranian custody?
Several Europeans are held in custody in Iran, including French couple Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, and Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele. - What is the UK government’s travel advisory?
The UK government advises against all travel to Iran.