The family of Cécile Kohler, a Frenchwoman detained in Iran, was able to speak to her for the first time since her arrest in May, during a video call on WhatsApp last Sunday, her support committee announced on Saturday December 24. “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, “she was in tears” when they answered the call. “We felt she was very tested psychologically. In particular, she suffers enormously from having been unable to have any contact with her family in more than seven months.they added in the press release.
They told themselves “particularly alarmed and extremely worried” because they found it “visibly psychologically tested”most “relieved to have finally had direct contact”good that “far too short”.
This call “unexpected, painful and hopeful” 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 was able 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 sightseeing in Iran. Tehran accuses them of being spies. According to the press release from her support committee, this teacher and trade unionist is “detained in section 209 of Evin prison, a high security section, sadly notorious for its extremely difficult detention conditions”in northern Iran.
They also assured to work with “the committees of other French hostages in Iran to organize joint actions”.
His relatives had decided to speak publicly after the broadcast in early October by Tehran of a video presented as “confession”, according to which Cécile Kohler worked for the French secret services. Paris had denounced a “unworthy staging” and mentioned for the first time “state hostages”.
Cecile Kohler “is innocent and must be released and repatriated immediately”also challenged its support committee, which clarified that the Frenchwoman still had not “independent lawyer” and that no trial date had been set.