The family of Cécile Kohler, a French woman detained in Iran, was able to speak to her for the first time since her arrest in May, during a WhatsApp video call last Sunday, her support committee announced on Saturday 24 December. “The interview, which lasted a few minutes, had not been announced. It took place under surveillance. Wearing a veil, Cécile could not speak freely”said the Freedom for Cécile committee in a press release.
According to family members, “was in tears” when they answered the call. “We heard she was very psychologically tested. In particular, she suffers greatly from not having been able to have any contact with her family for more than seven months.they added in the press release.
they said to each other “particularly alarmed and extremely concerned” because they found it “visibly psychologically tested”more “relieved to finally have had direct contact”well that “too short”.
This call “unexpected, painful and hopeful” it is perhaps according to the committee “the result of the work carried out by the French diplomatic authorities at the Quai d’Orsay”. The French ambassador to Iran had the opportunity to speak briefly with Cécile Kohler at the end of November.
Arrested in May during a tourist stay
Cécile Kohler and her partner, Jacques Paris, were arrested in May while visiting Iran. Tehran accuses them of being spies. According to the press release from her support committee, this teacher and trade unionist is “detained in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a maximum security ward, infamous for its extremely harsh prison conditions”in northern Iran.
They also made sure to work with “the committees of other French hostages in Iran to organize joint actions”.
His relatives had decided to speak publicly after Tehran aired a video presented as “confession”, that Cécile Kohler worked for the French secret service. Paris had reported a “unworthy staging” and mentioned for the first time “State hostages”.
Cecile Kohler “He is innocent and must be released and deported immediately”she also took issue with her support committee, which clarified that the Frenchwoman hadn’t done it yet “independent lawyer” and that no trial date had been set.
