The release from prison of the Franco-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah, arrested in Iran in June 2019, constitutes an "
encouragement
" for the French still detained in Iran, the families of some of them said in a press release on Sunday.
The scientist, sentenced to five years in prison for undermining national security, was released from prison a few days after Tehran announced a pardon for a "
significant number
" of convicts.
“
We are delighted with this news and hope that it involves the recovery of all of his freedoms
”, declared in a text sent to AFP the families and support committees of Benjamin Brière, Cécile Kohler, Jacques Paris and Louis Arnaud.
"
Fariba's release from prison is an encouragement for us in our determination to obtain the release of all the hostages
", they add, thanking "
all those who have worked for this hopeful progress
".
Read alsoThe health of the Franco-Irish detained in Iran is deteriorating
Dozens of Westerners are detained in Iran, described by their supporters as innocent people used by Tehran as bargaining levers.
Countries like France, six of whose nationals are being held in Iran, no longer hesitate to accuse Tehran of making them “
hostages of the state
”.
Frenchman Benjamin Brière was arrested in May 2020 and sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison for espionage.
"
Breathless after almost three years in detention, he is starting his 16th day of hunger strike
," the statement said.
Cécile Kohler and her companion Jacques Paris were arrested in May while they were sightseeing in Iran.
Tehran accuses them of being spies.
“
They had only a brief consular visit and a very short telephone contact with their family in more than 9 months of detention.
We have not heard from them since December 18, 2022, we are very worried
, ”adds the support committee.
More recently, the identity of Franco-Irish Bernard Phelan, detained in an Iranian prison since October, was made public.
His state of health "
has deteriorated considerably
" since a hunger and thirst strike which he suspended at the request of his family, the signatories say.
As for Louis Arnaud, detained in Evin prison, "
he suffers from extremely harsh conditions of detention (...), which makes us fear very serious physical and psychological repercussions
".
The name of the other imprisoned French national is not known.
