Iran charges two French nationals with spying for Israel

Iran has charged the French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris for “spying” for Israel, as reported by France 24 with AFP on July 2nd.

A French diplomatic source and the pair’s relatives confirmed the charges, which an Iranian judge recently upheld. Kohler’s sister said authorities continue to deny them access to independent lawyers.

The chargers of “conspiracy to overthrow the regime,” and “corruption on earth” are all punishable by death.

“These charges, if they are confirmed, are completely unfounded,” said the diplomatic source. Tehran has yet to publicly confirm the indictments. There was hope that the French nationals would be released in March, according to the BBC on March 20th, however, those hopes are now shattered.

The charges follow renewed fears over the couple’s safety. Israeli air strikes recently hit Evin prison in Tehran, where Kohler and Paris had previously been held.

The French foreign ministry confirmed that a diplomat had managed to visit the pair but did not disclose their current location. Their families had demanded proof of them being alive.

Iran’s judiciary stated that the Evin strike killed at least 79 people. It also confirmed that inmates had been relocated but offered no details on numbers or identities. Reports suggest that several women have been transferred to Qarchak prison, notorious for its poor conditions.

Kohler, 40, and her 72-year-old partner Paris have remained in detention since May 2022. Their families reject the original espionage allegations. Iran is believed to be holding around 20 European nationals, often without public disclosure. Western governments, including France, accuse Tehran of detaining foreigners as leverage in political negotiations.

The current conflict has prompted further arrests. Iranian authorities have detained three more European nationals. Though unnamed, two reportedly face charges of spying for Israel. These new detentions reinforce concerns over Iran’s strategy of using foreign nationals as political hostages.

France 24, BBC, Maghrebi.org