They have been detained in Iran for more than three years now. Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were charged with espionage for Israel this Wednesday, July 2. According to Cécile Kohler’s sister, the two French nationals risk the death penalty .
What to remember:
- Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in Iran since May 2022, are charged with espionage for the benefit of Mossad , conspiracy, and “corruption on earth,” claims that are punishable by the death penalty.
- France has denounced the accusations as “unfounded” and has expressed concern over the lack of access to independent lawyers for the detainees, who were transferred to unknown locations after the bombing of Evine on June 23.
- Paris has accused Tehran of engaging in “hostage diplomacy” to leverage nuclear negotiations; families are alarmed by the psychological state and conditions of detention affecting the detainees.
The French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris , who have faced over three years of detention in Iran, are now officially accused of “espionage for Mossad,” a charge that includes claims of “conspiracy to reverse the regime” and “corruption on earth.” A Western diplomatic source relayed this news to AFP on Wednesday, July 2.
“We were informed of these accusations,” said the diplomatic source during a briefing. These claims are described as “unfounded.” Cécile’s sister, Noémie Kohler , noted that “they saw a judge who confirmed these three charges,” although it remains unclear when this confirmation occurred. She lamented that the two detainees still lack access to independent legal representation .
Totally unfounded “fogger”
Until now, Iran had accused the two French nationals of espionage without specifying for which nation. Tehran has not yet confirmed whether any additional accusations have been laid out. The Evine prison , where both French detainees were held before the bombing on June 23, was reportedly struck during an attack attributed to Israel, resulting in at least 79 casualties, according to Iranian officials. Following this attack, some detainees were relocated without clarifying their identities.
“These indictment charges, if confirmed, are completely unfounded,” responded a French diplomatic source when approached by AFP. “Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are innocent. No sentence has been communicated to us, and to our knowledge, none has been pronounced,” they added.
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot has stated that obtaining their release is a priority for the French government. He announced that a French diplomat had successfully visited the two detainees, who have been out of contact since the June bombing.
“Hostage diplomacy”
The recent consular visit occurred at a facility named Bozorg , located in southern Tehran. It lasted around 35 minutes and took place “under close surveillance with guards present,” according to Noémie Kohler. “For the first time, Cécile and Jacques were together during this visit, but we cannot confirm that this is their permanent location,” she explained.
Cécile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France, and her partner Jacques Paris, aged 72, were arrested on May 7, 2022, during the final day of a tourist trip to Iran. European governments, whose citizens are similarly detained in Iran, have accused Tehran of “hostage diplomacy” to influence pivotal discussions on Iran’s nuclear program , which has been stalled for years.
“They heard strikes that made the walls of their cell tremble”
Relations between Iran and France are currently strained, particularly as Tehran criticizes Western nations for not condemning Israeli airstrikes. During the bombing of the Evine facility, Noémie recounts that “they heard three strikes that made the walls of their cell tremble.” She cited the details provided during the consular visit, confirming that her sister and Jacques witnessed injured fellow prisoners but were not physically harmed themselves.
Cécile was hurriedly transferred, along with other detainees, without the opportunity to gather personal belongings to Qarchak prison , where she remained for 24 hours. Subsequently, “they blindfolded her and transported her to another detention location of which she is unaware,” her sister stated. “The transfer was quite violent and traumatic,” she added.
“Cécile has not slept since the bombings. She is genuinely terrified that it will happen again,” Noémie detailed, noting that her last communication with her sister was on May 28. Meanwhile, Jacques Paris was moved to an undisclosed location, “isolated in a cell with no furniture, sleeping on the ground,” according to his partner. “He still lacks glasses suited for his vision and is suffering due to the lack of visibility,” she added. Noémie expressed extreme concern for their psychological condition amid “the double peril of potential death from renewed bombings and the looming death sentence hanging over them.”