Iran's Judiciary Accuses Detained British Couple of 'Espionage'

The spokesman for the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic stated that the charge against Craig and Lindsay Foreman, the detained British couple in Kerman, is 'espionage.' Asghar Jahangir said on Tuesday, February 19, that this couple was arrested in December of this year, adding that they were 'in contact with cover organizations related to the intelligence services of hostile and Western countries.' Iranian media reported on February 13 that Islamic Republic officials had arrested two British citizens accused of 'security crimes.' The spokesman further claimed that this couple entered Iran 'under the guise of tourists' and were engaged in 'collecting information' in several provinces of Iran 'under the guise of research and academic work.' He did not specify the type of 'information' that this couple was 'collecting.' British media state that the couple, who are tourists, entered Iran from Armenia on December 31 and intended to travel to Pakistan five days later, ultimately heading to Australia. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on the evening of February 13 that without mentioning how the two British citizens were arrested, they are being held in one of the prisons in Kerman province, and Hugo Shorter, the British ambassador to Iran, has met with these 'two security suspects of British nationality' at the public and revolutionary prosecutor's office in Kerman province. The family of this British couple announced on February 15 that they are actively in contact with the relevant British authorities to ensure their 'health and safe return' to their country. Reports from British media indicate that the couple, both in their early 50s, traveled to Kerman after staying in the cities of Tabriz, Tehran, and Isfahan with a tour guide but never checked into their hotel in Kerman. Before their arrest, the couple expressed their happiness about being in Iran in a series of social media posts and spoke about the 'lovely people of Iran.' Lindsay Foreman is a psychologist with a doctorate, and her husband Craig is a carpenter. Several other citizens from European countries are currently imprisoned in Iran. In recent years, the Islamic Republic has frequently exchanged these European prisoners with its desired prisoners held in Western countries.