France has strongly criticised Iran for holding two of its citizens on what it calls “unjustified and unfounded” spy charges. The pair, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been detained in Iran for over three years.On Thursday, French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the Iranian government has never officially informed France of the charges. However, reports suggest the two have been accused of spying for Israel, something Barrot firmly denied. He called for their “immediate, unconditional release.”Kohler, 40, and Paris, 72, were arrested in May 2022. They were initially held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, a notorious jail known for detaining dual nationals and foreigners often used as diplomatic leverage.A French diplomat was allowed to meet them earlier this week, after growing concerns from their families about their wellbeing. Their relatives had been demanding proof they were still alive following recent Israeli airstrikes on the prison.In an interview with BFM TV, Kohler’s sister, Noemie, said the couple had been told they were charged with spying, trying to overthrow the Iranian regime, and “corruption on Earth.”“Our understanding … is that they face death penalty,” she said. “We’re really extremely worried about their psychological state and the trauma of the bombings.”According to Noemie, the diplomat’s visit took place at a prison south of Tehran, as Kohler and Paris had been moved from Evin Prison after the strikes. Their current location remains unknown.
