France summoned the Iranian ambassador to Paris on Friday January 10 to denounce the situation of “state hostages” French people detained according to it by the Islamic Republic, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.
“Our demand for the immediate release of French nationals who were state hostages was reiterated with the greatest firmness” of Tehran, whose situation is “unbearable, with undignified conditions of detention which, for some, amount to torture under international law”estimated the ministry.
Three French people are still detained in Iran. A couple, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been detained since May 2022 and accused by the authorities of“espionage”which their relatives deny. A third, named Olivier but whose last name has not been made public, has also been detained since 2022.
Iran, which detains several Western or binational nationals, is accused by their supporters and NGOs of using them as a bargaining chip in state-to-state negotiations.
“Total mobilization”
“The mobilization of the French authorities to obtain the release of our compatriots and support their families and loved ones remains total”added the Quai d’Orsay.
“In this context, French nationals are recommended not to travel to Iran” and for those who are already there to leave “due to the risks of arrest and arbitrary detention”he insisted, as he had already done at the start of the week.
A young Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala, was arrested in Tehran on December 19 during a professional trip before being released and allowed to return to Italy on Wednesday.
Cecilia Sala was arrested a few days after the arrests in the United States and Italy of two Iranians suspected by American justice of the transfer of sensitive technologies.
Asked whether Italy had obtained his release in exchange for a commitment to free Mohammad Abedini, detained at Washington’s request since December, several members of the Italian government denied this.
“The Iranians themselves separated the two cases”had assured the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.
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