France welcomes release of two former detainees from Iran

France announced on April 7 that two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have been allowed to leave Iran following more than three years in detention. The pair had been staying in French diplomatic premises in Tehran after their release from prison.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in a social media post that Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher, and her partner Paris, in his 70s, were free and on their way back to France. He expressed relief for the detainees and their families, and thanked the Omani authorities for their mediation, as well as French state services and citizens who contributed to their return, Caliber.Az reports. 

Cécile Kohler et Jacques Paris sont libres et en chemin vers le territoire français, après trois ans et demi de détention en Iran. C’est un soulagement pour nous tous et évidemment pour leurs familles.

Merci aux autorités omanaises pour leurs efforts de médiation, aux services…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 7, 2026

Kohler and Paris were arrested on May 7, 2022, at the end of a tourist visit to Iran. They were held in section 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison, a facility often used for political prisoners. Iranian authorities accused them of espionage, conspiring to overthrow the regime, and spreading corruption under Islamic law, citing their meetings with teachers critical of the government and participation in an anti-government rally.

By Sabina Mammadli