Iran executes protester, bans family visits; British couple in prison cut off

Iran's authorities hanged 55‑year‑old protester Mohammad Abbasi at Qezel Hesar prison in Karaj after denying his family a final farewell, a move described by Iran Human Rights Monitor as "psychological torture" intended to intimidate dissent. The execution is part of a wider pattern; rights groups report at least 26 men have been executed in 2026 on charges ranging from protest participation to alleged espionage.

In a separate case, British nationals Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 53, were sentenced to ten years in Tehran's Evin prison on espionage charges they deny. After giving a media interview, their telephone access – the only link to the outside – was revoked, leaving their family terrified and unable to confirm their safety. The couple described hearing missile whistling and drone hums during recent US‑Israel strikes, and warned of unsafe prison conditions.

Both incidents highlight Iran's harsh tactics toward detainees and their families, drawing criticism from international human‑rights groups and prompting the UK Foreign Office to advise against travel to Iran.