The support committees for French detainees in Iran called on Monday, December 19 for coordinated action on the part of European countries.
“It must be recognized that the (French) negotiation strategy pursued until now has not yielded any significant results”
, they underline in an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the French authorities, seven French people are now detained in Iran, including Cécile Kohler, a teacher and trade unionist, and her companion Jacques Paris.
In addition to this couple arrested in early May while sightseeing in Iran, there is the Franco-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah, arrested in June 2019 and then sentenced to five years in prison for undermining national security, as well as Benjamin Brière, arrested in May 2020 and sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for espionage.
“Today, seven of our compatriots are being held hostage in Iran. Seven or maybe more, because we know from experience that not all cases are disclosed in the understandable hope of facilitating talks with the authorities in Tehran
,” the authors of the letter write.
They fear that the list will grow
“since the capture of foreigners has become a real public policy in Iran”
.
They also ask Emmanuel Macron
"to reconsider"
the diplomatic strategy
"to put an end to the ordeal of our relatives, our colleagues, our fellow citizens, and the iniquity of this barbaric form of blackmail diplomacy that Iran practices"
.
Read alsoSeven French detained in Iran
They note that most of France's European partners also have nationals taken hostage by the Tehran authorities.
"It is high time that Europe speaks with one voice (...) and makes the pursuit of any form of dialogue and relationship with Iran conditional on the immediate and unconditional release of its hostages
".
They urge Emmanuel Macron to seize the European Council
"so that with a single gesture of solidarity the Member States of the European Union recall their ambassador to Tehran and make the return of their nationals to their homes the prerequisite for any normal diplomatic relations"
.
"It is not only about their lives, the dignity of our respective countries, but also international security
," they conclude.
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