France is once again demanding, this Tuesday, May 7, the release of the four French people imprisoned in the country, including Cécile Kohler and her partner, Jacques Paris. The consultant Louis Arnaud has been detained for a year and a half.
Two years to the day after the arrest of Cécile Kohler and her partner, Jacques Paris, France castigates “state hostage policy” and the “permanent blackmail” Iranian authorities. She reiterates, this Tuesday, May 7, her request for release “immediate and unconditional” of the couple and the two other French people detained by Iran.
It was during a trip to Iran that Cécile Kohler, 39 years old and a modern literature teacher, was arrested with Jacques Paris, a 69-year-old former mathematics teacher. Official reason: “spying”. In September, the Iranian justice system announced that the investigation against them had been completed: a possible trial could therefore take place.
“[Ils] were arbitrarily arrested by the Islamic Republic of Iran two years ago today, and our two other compatriots, including Mr. Louis Arnaud, more than a year and a half ago. France condemns this state hostage policy and this permanent blackmail of the Iranian authorities.denounces the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.
“Facade trial”
Louis Arnaud, consultant, has been in detention for a year and a half. He was sentenced in November to five years in prison for propaganda and endangering the security of the Iranian state. Conviction judged “unacceptable” through Paris. Another Frenchman, named Olivier (his full identity has not been revealed), is also detained. This brings to four the number of French people still imprisoned in Iran, as well as dozens of foreigners, often with dual nationality. There were seven in 2023: researcher Fariba Adelkhah, for example, was able to return to France in October, after four years of detention.
“The mobilization of the French authorities to obtain the release of our four compatriots remains complete. We are also in permanent contact with their families and loved ones, whom we support in this ordeal”, affirms the Quai d’Orsay. The French authorities add that they have “a thought for all the other European hostages in prison in Iran, innocent of the absurd charges brought against them in facade trials”.
