Latest news with #CecileKohler
The National
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iran criticises France for case filed at UN court over citizens' detention
Iran on Monday criticised France for filing a case against it at the International Court of Justice over the detention of two French nationals in conditions Paris denounced as inhumane. 'This move by France is, at best, an attempt to exploit a legal and judicial institution,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, calling the step 'pointless' and saying Iran would 'defend itself'. Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France and her partner Jacques Paris, in his 70s, were arrested on May 7, 2022, on the last day of a tourist trip to Iran. The pair are among about 20 Europeans held in Iran in what some European countries regard as a strategy of hostage-taking to extract concessions from the west at a time of tension over Tehran's nuclear programme. A fifth round of US-Iran talks were held on Friday in Rome. The two parties aim for a framework to guide talks, the Wall Street Journal reported, that could mirror a 2013 interim agreement that preceded the 2015 nuclear deal Iran reached with the Obama administration. In parallel, technical talks between France, the UK and Germany also take place regularly with Iran. If they fail, European countries have threatened to reimpose sanctions on Tehran in October. In its case at the ICJ, France accused Iran 'of violating its obligation to provide consular protection' to the pair, who 'have been held hostage … detained in appalling conditions that amount to torture', Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said earlier this month. Court procedures at the ICJ are expected to take up to two years. Ms Kohler and Mr Paris are the last known French detainees in Iran and their families say they face tough conditions in jail. French consular representatives in Iran have been allowed to visit them briefly four times. Paris has said that is insufficient to guarantee their rights under international law and the 1963 Vienna Convention on consular relations. Under the convention, consular representatives should be allowed to inspect detention conditions and provide legal support. France, as well as other European countries, have in recent years toughened their stance against Iran's human rights breaches and nuclear programme. Relations deteriorated further when it was reported that Iran was supporting Russia in its war on Ukraine, a western ally.
News24
16-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
France sues Iran at ICJ over citizens ‘held hostage' for 3 years
France will sue Iran to free Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris. They have been held on spying charges for three years. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners. Paris has filed a case against Tehran at the top UN court over two French citizens who have been held in Iran for three years, the French foreign minister said on Friday. The announcement comes as Iranian negotiators are set to meet with their counterparts from the UK, France, and Germany in Turkey on Friday for talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France and her partner Jacques Paris, in his 70s, were arrested on 7 May 2022, on the last day of a tourist trip to Iran. They have been held on spying charges, which they have vehemently denied. In its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), France accuses Iran 'of violating its obligation to provide consular protection' to the pair, who 'have been held hostage... detained in appalling conditions that amount to torture', Jean-Noel Barrot told France 2 television. READ | Iran must 'walk away' from all uranium enrichment, Rubio says They are among a number of Europeans still held by Iran in what some European countries, including France, regard as a deliberate strategy of hostage-taking to extract concessions from the West at a time of tension over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. Kohler and Paris are the last known French detainees in Iran after some recent releases and are regarded as 'state hostages' by the French government. The two are jailed in extremely tough conditions, according to their families. According to Reuters, Iranian officials deny these accusations. 'France will maintain pressure on the Iranian authorities until our two compatriots are freed. Their liberation is a national priority,' French foreign ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine told a news conference. He said French officials would file the case on Friday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is based in The Hague, for violating the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Cases at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, take years to come to a final ruling. Parties can request the court to order emergency measures to ensure that the dispute not deteriorate while the case is making its way through the United Nations' top court. In recent years, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security. Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage.
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
France Sues Iran at Top UN Court over Detained Citizens
Paris has filed a case against Tehran at the top UN court over two French citizens who have been held in Iran for three years, the French foreign minister said on Friday. The announcement comes as Iranian negotiators are set to meet with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in Türkiye on Friday for talks on Iran's nuclear program. Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France and her partner Jacques Paris, in his 70s, were arrested on May 7, 2022, on the last day of a tourist trip to Iran. They have been held on spying charges, which they have vehemently denied. In its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), France accuses Iran "of violating its obligation to provide consular protection" to the pair, who "have been held hostage... detained in appalling conditions that amount to torture," Jean-Noel Barrot told France 2 television. They are among a number of Europeans still held by Iran in what some European countries, including France, regard as a deliberate strategy of hostage-taking to extract concessions from the West at a time of tension over Iran's nuclear program. Kohler and Paris are the last known French detainees in Iran after some recent releases and are regarded as "state hostages" by the French government. The two are jailed in extremely tough conditions, according to their families.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
France Sues Iran Over Detained Citizens at UN Court
PARIS: Paris has filed a case against Tehran at the top UN court over two French citizens who have been held in Iran for three years, the French foreign minister said on Friday. The announcement comes as Iranian negotiators are set to meet with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in Turkey on Friday for talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France and her partner Jacques Paris, in his 70s, were arrested on May 7, 2022, on the last day of a tourist trip to Iran. They have been held on spying charges, which they have vehemently denied. In its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), France accuses Iran 'of violating its obligation to provide consular protection' to the pair, who 'have been held hostage... detained in appaling conditions that amount to torture,' Jean-Noel Barrot told France 2 television. They are among a number of Europeans still held by Iran in what some European countries, including France, regard as a deliberate strategy of hostage-taking to extract concessions from the West at a time of tension over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. Kohler and Paris are the last known French detainees in Iran after some recent releases and are regarded as 'state hostages' by the French government. The two are jailed in extremely tough conditions, according to their families.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
France sues Iran at top UN court over detained citizens
PARIS: Paris has filed a case against Tehran at the top UN court over two French citizens who have been held in Iran for three years, the French foreign minister said on Friday. The announcement comes as Iranian negotiators are set to meet with their counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany in Turkey on Friday for talks on Iran's nuclear programme. Cecile Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher from eastern France and her partner Jacques Paris, in his 70s, were arrested on May 7, 2022, on the last day of a tourist trip to Iran. They have been held on spying charges, which they have vehemently denied. In its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), France accuses Iran 'of violating its obligation to provide consular protection' to the pair, who 'have been held hostage... detained in appaling conditions that amount to torture,' Jean-Noel Barrot told France 2 television. They are among a number of Europeans still held by Iran in what some European countries, including France, regard as a deliberate strategy of hostage-taking to extract concessions from the West at a time of tension over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. Kohler and Paris are the last known French detainees in Iran after some recent releases and are regarded as 'state hostages' by the French government. The two are jailed in extremely tough conditions, according to their families.
