Cécile Kohler is a French teacher,[1] union activist and member of the National Federation of Education, Culture and Vocational Training.[2] She and her husband were arrested in Iran in May 2022 on charges of "attempting to incite unrest and helping teachers strike in Iran" by the Ministry of Intelligence.[3]
Cécile Kohler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cécile Kohler |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation(s) | Teacher, union activist |
| Known for | Arrested on charges of "attempting to incite unrest and helping teachers strike in Iran" |
| Spouse | Jacques Paris |
Arrests edit
Kohler and her husband Jacques Paris were arrested in Iran in May 1, 2022 on charges of "attempting to incite unrest and helping teachers strike in Iran" by the Ministry of Intelligence.[4][5]
Forced confession edit
A film of their forced confession was aired on the Islamic Republic TV and they confessed to spying for the French security and intelligence apparatus.[6][7]
On October 6, the state-run IRNA news agency published a video of Kohler and Paris' "confession" to French intelligence agents.[8][9]
Reactions edit
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "The staging of their supposed confessions is shameful, disgusting, unacceptable and contrary to international law."[10][11]
On April 4, more than one hundred people demonstrated in Paris to support the French nationals imprisoned in Iran and to request their release.[12][13] In this protest meeting, which was held in Place de la République following the call of the families of four French prisoners, the demonstrators displayed placards with the photos and names of Kohler, Paris, Louis Arnaud and a citizen named "Olivier".[14][15]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Parent, Deepa (2024-04-04). "'I saw my sister forced to say she was a spy on Iranian TV. It was the worst day of my life'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Two Europeans Arrested in Iran Identified As Members Of French Teachers' Union". Iran International. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "France tells citizens to leave Iran 'as soon as possible'". CNN. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Iran arrests French couple and threatens to execute Swedish-Iranian". The Guardian. 2022-05-12. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "After US prisoner swap, a dozen Westerners remain captive in Iran". Times of Israel. 2023-09-18.
- ^ "Iran releases video purporting to show French citizens' confessions". euronews. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "France accuses Iran of staging 'confession' video of 'state hostages'". Times of Israel. 2022-10-06.
- ^ RFE/RL. "France Slams Iran After Video Appears To Show 'Forced Confession'". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Iran airs 'staged' confession video of French couple accused of spying". France 24. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires. "Iran – Situation of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris (10.06.22)". France Diplomacy - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Iran Says More Foreign Nationals Detained Over 'Conspiracy'". Iran International. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Iran jails French national for five years: Family". Al Arabiya. 2023-11-05.
- ^ "L'Iran reconnait l'arrestation d'un diplomate de l'UE et accuse deux détenus Français d'espionnage". France 24 (in French). 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Dozens Demand Release of French Detainees in Iran". Voice of America. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Nouveau rassemblement à Paris pour la libération de Cécile Kohler, otage alsacienne en Iran - France Bleu". ici, par France Bleu et France 3 (in French). 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
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