ISLAMABAD: Iranian authorities have formally charged two French citizens, Cécile Kohler, 40, and Jacques Paris, 72, with espionage for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency after holding them in custody for over three years.
The couple was arrested in May 2022, and their families and diplomatic sources confirmed the charges on Wednesday.
In addition to espionage, the charges against Kohler and Paris include “conspiring to overthrow the regime” and “corruption on earth,” which is one of the most serious charges under Iran’s penal code, potentially punishable by death.
The couple’s family members and a French diplomatic source have strongly denied the charges, calling them baseless. “All we know is that they have seen a judge who confirmed the three charges,” said Kohler’s sister, while a French diplomatic source echoed that the accusations were entirely without merit.
This latest development follows a consular visit by a French diplomat, confirming that the two detainees were still alive, days after their whereabouts had become uncertain following an Israeli airstrike that targeted Tehran’s Evin prison. The attack, which killed at least 79 people, prompted Iran to transfer detainees out of the prison, but the authorities have not provided specific details on the individuals moved.
The couple’s arrest, initially for espionage, has been denied by their families, and France has consistently advocated for their release. France believes that Iran is currently holding around 20 European nationals, many of whom have not been publicly named.
Iran’s crackdown on foreign nationals has been exacerbated by growing regional tensions, with new detentions, including three additional European citizens, reportedly for alleged espionage activities related to Israel.
