Barrot said Thursday that Iran has not formally notified France of the charges against Cécile Kohler, 40, and Jacques Paris, 72, though reports indicate they are accused of spying for Israel.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has condemned espionage charges reportedly leveled against two French nationals detained in Iran for over three years, calling the accusations “unjustified and unfounded.”
Barrot said Thursday that Iran has not formally notified France of the charges against Cécile Kohler, 40, and Jacques Paris, 72, though reports indicate they are accused of spying for Israel. “If confirmed, France would consider the charges totally unjustified and unfounded,” he stated, demanding their “immediate, unconditional release.”
Kohler and Paris were arrested in May 2022 and were held at Tehran’s Evin Prison, known for detaining dual nationals and Westerners. They were reportedly moved after recent Israeli strikes on the facility.
This week, a French diplomat met the couple at a prison south of Tehran. Kohler’s sister, Noemie Kohler, told BFM TV the couple faces charges including espionage, conspiracy to overthrow the regime, and “corruption on Earth,” adding, “Our understanding … is that they face death penalty.”
She expressed deep concern over their mental health following the bombings.
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