Relatives of French people detained in Iran expressed their concern on Wednesday about “the threat of open conflict between Iran and Israel” and urged the State to intensify its diplomatic efforts with Tehran to obtain their release.
Currently, four nationals including Jacques Paris, Cécile Kohler and Louis Arnaud have been detained since 2022 in Iran and considered by the French government as “state hostages” due to arrests and convictions deemed “arbitrary”. Another Frenchman, named Olivier, whose identity has not been revealed, is also detained.
“Each day that passes exposes them more”
“Their state of health, both physical and moral, is deteriorating,” underline the support committees of Jacques Paris, Cécile Kohler and Louis Arnaud in a press release. “Their environment becomes more and more distressing. Because today, our loved ones, our fellow citizens find themselves exposed to the threat of open conflict between Iran and Israel,” they add.
“Each day that passes exposes them more to the consequences of increasing international conflicts,” they believe. “Even as we witness the repatriation of French nationals from the States of Lebanon, Israel, and Iran, how can we neglect the security of our other compatriots? », they lament.
VIDEO. IDF warns that Tehran will “not emerge unscathed” from its attack
They recall that at the start of their detention “already, their lives had been put in danger by a violent fire in Evin prison”. This fire caused several deaths and many injured.
“We call on the French state to intensify its diplomatic efforts with Iran,” they write, adding that they cannot “be the victims of political games.”