Paris, October 16 (AP) – The families of two French nationals detained in Iran for over three years have expressed grave concern, stating that their loved ones have reached "the limit of what they can endure." This follows reports of an Iranian court sentencing them to lengthy prison terms on charges of espionage.
At a news conference in Paris on Thursday, the relatives of Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, shared that they had a rare phone call on Tuesday. During the call, both detainees conveyed their deep despair.
"For the first time, they told us clearly that they can't take any more," said Noemie Kohler, the sister of Cecile Kohler. "A few more weeks are beyond their strength." Anne-Laure, the daughter of Jacques Paris, quoted her father: "I stare death in the face. It's not possible anymore."
On Tuesday, Iran's judiciary outlet, Mizan, reported that a Revolutionary Court in Tehran had issued a preliminary verdict against two French citizens for "working for French intelligence" and "cooperating with Israel," although it didn’t provide names.
The semiofficial Fars news agency identified the individuals as Kohler and Paris, and noted sentences that, in total, could amount to 63 years. Under Iranian legal practice, convicts typically serve the longest single term associated with their charges. These verdicts can be appealed to Iran's Supreme Court within 20 days.
Defense lawyer Chirinne Ardakani expressed that the families have yet to receive any official notification. "Without access to the criminal file or an independent lawyer, we cannot verify whether any sentence has actually been pronounced," she remarked, describing the process as "a farce, a comedy."
Kohler and Paris were arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran. France has condemned their detention, labeling it "unjustified and unfounded."
Mizan reported that the case was conducted behind closed doors, a routine aspect of Revolutionary Court procedures that frequently restrict defendants' access to evidence. Rights groups and Western governments have accused Tehran of using foreign detainees as leverage, an accusation Iran firmly denies.
The announced sentences emerge amid tensions related to another case: Tehran's alleged pressure on Paris to release Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian national held in France. In September, Iran's foreign minister commented that the two countries were nearing a prisoner swap agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently mentioned a "solid prospect" of securing the pair's release, while cautioning that he remains "very cautious."
For the families, the situation is currently existential. "They are at the end of their rope," said Noemie Kohler. "They cannot hold on much longer."
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