Two French nationals have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Iran after being convicted of espionage, according to Iranian state media. The individuals, believed to be Cecile Kohler, 40, and Jacques Paris, 72, were arrested in May 2022 while on a tourist visit. Reportedly, they were found guilty of spying on behalf of both France and Israel.
This announcement follows a statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who indicated that negotiations for a swap involving French detainees and an Iranian woman held in France were nearing completion. There have been indications that Kohler and Paris could be part of this exchange.
In other related cases, another French tourist, Olivier Grondeau, 34, was released earlier this year after serving time for “conspiracy against the Islamic republic.” The judicial news agency Mizan reported that one of the defendants received a six-year prison sentence for espionage on behalf of France, along with additional sentences for conspiracy against national security and cooperation with Israeli intelligence. The other defendant was sentenced to ten years for similar charges and also received sentences for national security violations. Under Iranian law, these sentences run concurrently.
It remains unclear what the term “exile” entails in this context, though it typically involves being relocated to remote areas. Mizan also noted that the defendants’ pre-trial detention would be taken into account, allowing them to contest the verdict within 20 days.
France has accused Iran of arbitrarily detaining Kohler and Paris and subjecting them to harsh conditions, a claim that Iran has denied. Human rights organizations have expressed concerns that foreign nationals, particularly tourists and dual citizens, are often detained for leverage in diplomatic discussions. Iran is believed to be currently holding about 20 Europeans, including a British couple charged with espionage.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyplx3xz47o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss