Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been hostages in Iran for three years, their portraits displayed on the walls of the Ministry of National Education

Cécile Kolher and Jacques Paris have been hostages in Iran for three years. Accused of spying they are illegally detained in a high security district of Evin prison, near Tehran, the capital. Their loved ones are very worried and say “out of breath”.

Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been hostages for three years.

On May 7, 2022, the couple was arrested while they are about to get on the plane after a tourist trip to Iran. Accused of espionage, Jacques Paris and Cécile Kolher have since detained separately, in cells of 9 m², in the prison of Evin, near Tehran, the capital.

Marie Brigitte Huet is the president of the Jacques Paris support committee and Cécile Kohler. She knows Jacques Paris well, she was a teacher with him at the Lycée Clemenceau in Nantes. Today, like all the relatives of the two hostages, she fears the worst.

“They are in high security district, the DS cells which they live are not isolation cells, they come out 2 to 3 times a week 30 minutes. They do not see anyone outside the authorities. They do not receive many books, they have neither paper nor pencil, they wrap in a blanket to sleep, there are no beds. she explains.

They hear news on the family and mobilization it makes them feel good

Marie Brigitte has

President of the Jacques Paris support committee and Cécile Kohler

“What weighs the most is not to see the end. There were times after the summer when they were shown in a quick resolution. They thought they were going to be able to come out”adds the president of the support committee.

“We, our committee brings together people who have rubbed shoulders with Jacques, friends, colleagues, former students, it is not possible to stay in ballant arms, we want to support him with our little arms. Since there are the blows, they know that we are talking about them, that we organize gatherings”.

“We plead for there to be discussions, the objective is the liberation, placed to diplomacy … Perhaps there are discussions, a dialogue. The Quai d’Orsay receives families regularly, but it is support, it is not information”, they had demonsoly marie Brigitte.

The method is to put the maximum pressure on the Iranians … It is this speech that worries us. We plead for the opening of a diplomatic dialogue. The goal is release

Marie Brigitte has

President of the Jacques Paris support committee and Cécile Kohler

France “Acts relentlessly to get” the “Libération” by Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, “Iran’s hostages” For three years to the day, said on X on Wednesday, May 7, President Emmanuel Macron. “I assure their families with our unwavering support”added the head of state.

Guest of France Inter this Wednesday, May 6, Elizabeth Borne, the minister of National Education said “worry” For Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in Iran. “I am worried after exchanging with [les] parents” From Cécile Kohler, reacts the minister on Wednesday, May 7. “It’s been three years now that they are arbitrarily detained in Iran”she recalls.

“I mean again that France makes every effort to obtain their release, to ensure them of our total support”continues the minister. “Today, on the Ministry of National Education, we will display the portraits of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris to say that we do not forget them”announced Élisabeth Borne.

In early April, Paris announced its intention to file a complaint “shortly” against Tehran before the International Court of Justice “For violation of the right to consular protection” to which its two imprisoned nationals should be entitled.

Many events of support are scheduled for Wednesday across France to denounce their three years of detention. “It has been three years since our two compatriots Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were arrested in Iran (…) on May 7, 2022, they were arrested without foundation”said the chief of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot in a video posted on X.

About fifty support demonstrations were organized this Wednesday, May 7, including a rally in the courtyard of the town hall of Nantes.