Headlines
Detained Britons Used as 'human Shields' in Iran War Zone, Family Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 20, 2026
Quick Summary
The family of British couple Lindsay and Craig Foreman, jailed in Iran on espionage charges, say they’re being used as “human shields” amid US‑Israeli bombing. They criticize the UK government for limited advocacy despite harsh prison conditions and a 10‑year sentence.
Family Says Detained Britons Used as 'Human Shields' in Iranian War Zone
Detention of British Couple in Iran and Family's Response
LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The family of a British couple detained in Iran said on Friday the pair were being used as "human shields" during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and they accused Britain's government of failing to make progress on their release.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were sentenced to 10 years in prison last year after Iran charged them with espionage, which they deny.
Conditions in Detention
The family said the couple were being used as "effective human shields" and said a blast near Evin prison in Tehran had blown out window panels in Craig Foreman's ward and had sent plaster falling on inmates who dived under beds for cover.
Testimony from Family Members
"My parents are living under a 'drone of drones', the constant, maddening buzz of 600 machines in the sky," Joe Bennett, Lindsay Foreman's son, said in a statement.
"They are sharing small rectangular cells with rats and cockroaches, sleeping on metal bunks without mattresses in a state of constant physical pain."
Bennett Criticises UK Government
The couple were arrested in January 2025 while travelling through Iran on motorcycles as part of a world trip. In February last year Iranian state media announced their detention on espionage charges.
Lobbying for Release
Bennett has lobbied the British government to secure his parents' release. At a conference on arbitrary detention in Washington this month he said his parents felt abandoned and that Britain had offered "almost non-existent" advocacy beyond basic practical support.
Official Government Response
The British government has condemned the Foremans' sentence as "totally unjustifiable" and has said it will keep pressing for their release.
Bennett said British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper offered only "delay and uncertainty" during a meeting he held with her this week.
The foreign ministry's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Sam TabahritiEditing by William Schomberg and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •The Foremans were sentenced to 10 years in February 2026 and are held in Evin prison subjected to blasts and inhumane conditions, including vermin‑infested cells and lack of mattresses.(en.wikipedia.org)
- •The family—and son Joe Bennett—say the couple are effectively being used as “human shields” amid US‑Israeli strikes, enduring constant drone presence and physical danger while UK advocacy has been “almost non‑existent.”(en.wikipedia.org)
- •The UK government condemned the sentence as “totally unjustifiable”, provides consular assistance, and continues diplomacy, but the family accuses Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper of offering only “delay and uncertainty.”(en.wikipedia.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Detained Britons used as 'human shields' in Iran war zone, family says
1Who are the British nationals detained in Iran?
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, a British couple, are detained in Iran after being charged with espionage, which they deny.
2Why are the Britons accused of being used as 'human shields'?
Their family claims Iranian authorities are keeping them in prison to use them as 'human shields' during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
3How has the UK government responded to the couple's detention?
The British government has condemned the sentencing and stated it continues to press for their release, though the family says official advocacy has been limited.
4What were the prison conditions described by the detainees' family?
The couple reportedly live in small, unsanitary cells under constant drone noise and experienced a blast that damaged their ward.
5When and why were Lindsay and Craig Foreman arrested?
They were arrested in January 2025 while traveling through Iran on motorcycles and later charged with espionage.
