Latest news with #JacquesParis
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli strike on Iranian prison killed more than 70, says Iran state-affiliated media
Israel's attack on Evin Prison in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Monday killed 71 people, according to Mizan, the news outlet of the Iranian judiciary. 'The martyrs include prison administrative staff, conscripted soldiers, inmates, family members of prisoners who were at the prison for visits or legal follow-ups, and neighbors living near the prison,' judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said in remarks published on Sunday. The state-affiliated news agency Fars reported that 'much damage' had been recorded in the surrounding area. The Israeli military attacked the entrance of Iran's notorious Evin Prison on Monday, according to Israel's defense minister and Iranian state news. Security forces at the Evin detention center are known for their long record of human rights abuses, according to regime critics. Political activists, journalists and musicians are among those who have been incarcerated at the facility. It is unclear why Israel targeted the facility. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed in a statement that Evin had been targeted, alongside several other sites, including the flagship building of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij headquarters (a paramilitary wing of the IRGC), without providing any further details. France's foreign minister condemned the strike on the prison, which was housing two French nationals. 'The strike aimed at Evin Prison in Tehran put in danger two of our nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, hostages for the past three years. It's unacceptable,' Jean-Noël Barrot said in a post on X following the attack. The couple were on holiday in Iran in May 2022 when they were stopped by authorities and arrested on suspicion of espionage. In October that year, Iranian state television broadcast a forced confession from the pair, during which Kohler said she was an agent working for France's intelligence services, the DGES. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel was announced late on Monday, after 12 days of back and forth strikes that started when Israel attacked Iran earlier this month.
CNA
a day ago
- Politics
- CNA
Iran says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
DUBAI: Israel's attack on the Evin Prison in Iran's capital Tehran last week killed 71 people, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday (Jun 29). At the end of an air war with Iran, Israel on Jun 23 struck Tehran's most notorious jail for political prisoners, in a demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim at symbols of Iran's ruling system. 'In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison's vicinity,' Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary's news outlet Mizan. Jahangir had previously said that part of Evin prison's administrative building had been damaged in the attack and people were killed and injured. The judiciary added that remaining detainees had been transferred to other prisons in Tehran province. Evin prison holds a number of foreign nationals, including two French citizens detained for three years. "The strike targeting Evin prison in Tehran, put our citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris in danger. It is unacceptable," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said on social media X after the attack.
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Iran says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
DUBAI, June 29 (Reuters) - Israel's attack on the Evin Prison in Iran's capital Tehran on June 23 killed 71 people, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday. At the end of an air war with Iran, Israel struck Tehran's most notorious jail for political prisoners, in a demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim at symbols of Iran's ruling system. 'In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison's vicinity,' Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary's news outlet Mizan. Jahangir had previously said that part of Evin prison's administrative building had been damaged in the attack and people were killed and injured. The judiciary added that remaining detainees had been transferred to other prisons in Tehran province. Evin prison holds a number of foreign nationals, including two French citizens detained for three years. "The strike targeting Evin prison in Tehran, put our citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris in danger. It is unacceptable," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said on social media X after the attack.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Families of French citizens detained in Iran plead for proof of life after Israel prison strike
Ms Noemie Kohler, sister of Cecile Kohler, and Ms Anne-Laure Paris, daughter of Jacques Paris, giving a press conference with lawyer Chirinne Ardakani, in Paris, on June 27. PHOTO: REUTERS Families of French citizens detained in Iran plead for proof of life after Israel prison strike PARIS - The families of Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, two French citizens detained in Iran since 2022, issued urgent pleas on June 27 for proof the pair are still alive, days after an Israeli strike hit Tehran's Evin prison where they are held. Evin prison is known as Iran's most notorious facility for political prisoners, and where Iran has often held foreign nationals, including Paris and Kohler who are accused of spying and seeking to stir up unrest. France has called the charges baseless and has demanded their immediate release for three years. Israel struck the prison on June 23, one of the last targets hit in its 12-day air campaign that ended with a ceasefire the following morning. Iran has said some people died in the attack but the fate of the French prisoners remained unclear. France has condemned the strikes on the prison, accusing Israel of putting two of its citizens in danger. 'We are desperate, terrorised,' said Ms Anne-Laure Paris, daughter of Jacques Paris, calling on Iranian authorities to provide immediate evidence that the pair survived and to secure their release within hours. According to their families, the last confirmed contact with the prisoners was on May 30 during a consular visit. 'No one, not us, the families or the French authorities, have been able to make direct contact with them,' Ms Noemie Kohler, Cecile Kohler's sister, said. 'We are waiting for immediate sign of life from Cecile and Jacques... to make sure they are really okay and they are really alive.' They are urging the French government to support 'exfiltration on grounds of force majeure,' pointing to the dangers posed by ongoing conflict and an unstable ceasefire. A formal request is also being prepared for submission within hours to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. France in May filed a case at the World Court against Iran for violating the right to consular protection a bid to pressure Iran over the detention of its two citizens. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have detained dozens of foreign and dual nationals in recent years, often on espionage-related charges. Rights groups and Western countries accuse Tehran of using foreign detainees as bargaining chips, which Iran denies. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
LBCI
7 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
French FM says Israel striking Tehran prison holding French detainees 'unacceptable'
France hit out at Israel on Monday over a strike on a Tehran prison holding two French nationals and other Europeans. "This is unacceptable," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X, although he said that the strike on Evin prison was not believed to have harmed French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris. AFP
