French visitors to Iran asked to leave the country “as soon as possible” – Le Figaro

“Given the risks of arbitrary detention to which they expose themselves”, the French “passing through Iran are invited to leave the country”, alerted the Quai d’Orsay, this Friday. The French “passing through Iran are invited to leave the country as soon as possible given the risks of arbitrary detention to which they are exposed”, alerted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday in an update of travel advice on its site. “Any French visitor, including binationals, is exposed to a high risk of arrest, arbitrary detention and unfair trial”, indicates the ministry, specifying that “this risk also concerns people making a simple tourist visit”, and that “in the event of arrest or detention, respect for fundamental rights and the safety of persons are not guaranteed”. An “unworthy and revolting staging” This update comes after the broadcast on official Iranian television of the “confessions” of two French nationals arrested last May and accused of espionage. A video described as “unworthy and revolting staging” by the Quai d’Orsay, which called for the “immediate release” of the two Frenchmen, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris. These two members of a teachers’ union were arrested in May, when Iran was the scene of demonstrations by teachers demanding reforms for an increase in their salaries and calling for the release of colleagues arrested during previous mobilizations. In addition to Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two other French people are being held in Iran, a country accused by NGOs of practicing hostage diplomacy to negotiate to its advantage on the international scene. “The ability of the French Embassy in Tehran to provide consular protection for nationals arrested or detained in Iran is very constrained”, further warns the site of the French ministry, which had already classified the whole of Iranian territory as “red”. because of the situation in this country since the death on September 16 of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested by the morality police. A hundred people were killed in the protest – still ongoing – which followed the death of the young woman, according to NGOs. In addition to Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two other Frenchmen are detained in Iran, a country accused of practicing hostage diplomacy to negotiate to its advantage on the international scene.