Tag: Cécile Kohler

Following Acquittal on Espionage Charges, Lennart Monterlos Released

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News, Prisoners
Bandar-Abbas, Cécile Kohler, Hormozgan, Jacques Paris, Lennart Christian Jean-Pierre Monterlos, Lennart Monterlos

HRANA – Lennart Monterlos (Lennart Christian Jean-Pierre Monterlos), a German national who also holds French citizenship, has been released following his acquittal by the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court. He had been arrested on charges of “espionage” during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the news today, stating: “Our compatriot, Lennart Monterlos, has finally been freed. He had been detained in Iran since June 16. The people of France share in the relief and happiness of him and his family. I thank everyone who worked for his release.”

President Macron also referred to the continued detention of Cécile Kohler and her husband Jacques Paris, two members of the French teachers’ and education union, calling their detention in Iran arbitrary and urging their immediate release.

ISNA News Agency, citing sources close to Monterlos’s case, reported that he is expected to return to France on Thursday.

On Monday, October 6, Mojtaba Ghahremani, the head of the Hormozgan Provincial Judiciary, announced that the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court had acquitted this German-French citizen of espionage charges.

Ghahremani stated: “Despite an indictment issued by the prosecutor’s office, the Revolutionary Court – based on legal principles and in light of doubts regarding the alleged offense -issued a verdict of acquittal. However, under the law, the prosecutor has the right to appeal the ruling.”

During that conflict, a German-language news outlet covering France and global affairs reported that Monterlus, an 18-year-old French national, had traveled to Iran by bicycle and had gone missing on June 16. Shortly thereafter, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in an interview with a French publication that this citizen had been arrested in Iran.

Identity of a French Citizen Imprisoned in Iran Revealed

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News, Prisoners
Cécile Kohler, Jacques Paris, Olivier Grondeau

HRANA News Agency – The full identity of Olivier Grondeau, a French citizen detained in Iran, has been disclosed. Previously identified only by his first name, Mr. Grondeau highlighted his dire situation, along with that of two other French detainees in Iran, in an audio message aired by the French public radio station France Inter. He also appealed to French authorities for urgent assistance.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Olivier Grondeau, a 34-year-old French national, revealed in the audio recording that he and two other French prisoners are enduring harsh conditions in Iranian custody. This revelation follows earlier remarks by the French Foreign Minister, who criticized Iran for detaining three French nationals and had previously mentioned Mr. Grondeau only by his first name.

Mr. Grondeau’s mother told France Inter that her son was arrested in Shiraz in October 2022 (Mehr 1401) and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison on charges related to national security. She refuted the allegations, emphasizing that Olivier traveled to Iran solely as a tourist and out of a deep interest in Persian poetry.

The two other detainees, Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, have been in Iranian custody since May 2022 (Ordibehesht 1401). Iranian authorities accuse them of inciting labor protests—an allegation their families vehemently deny.

In the audio message, Mr. Grondeau urged French officials to act swiftly, saying, “Cécile’s strength, Jacques’ strength, and Olivier’s strength are running out.” He appealed to authorities to “guarantee the lives of these three individuals.”

In response, the French government has summoned Iran’s ambassador and strongly condemned the detention of its three citizens.

Dutch National Arrested and Sentenced 

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, News, Prisoners
Cécile Kohler, Dutch national, Jacques Paris, Kees Lunenburg, Maciej Walczak, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Olivier Vandecasteele, Polish scientist

HRANA has identified a European national who is jailed in Evin prison. Kees Lunenburg, a Dutch national, is currently serving his five-year sentence in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Polish Maciej Walczak, who was sentenced to three years, is also housed in the same ward.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Dutch national Kees Lunenburg is currently jailed in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. HRANA has received variants of this individual’s last name and will update its database accordingly. 

The about-mentioned detained Dutch national was sentenced to five years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security.” HRANA is trying to find out new details about his case. 

Polish scientist Maciej Walczak is housed in the same ward. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland has confirmed his arrest.  Iran has claimed that Walczak and three others were arrested as they were collecting soil samples from a restricted site of a missile test. 

The spokesperson of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, has stated that in September of 2021, Walczak and his two colleagues were arrested in Iran. Two university professors were released but Walczak was sentenced to three years in prison.

In recent weeks, Belgian national Olivier Vandecasteele, a 41-year-old aid worker, and two French individuals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were also arrested.

Detained French Nationals Indicted in Iran

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Cécile Kohler, Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, Eskandar Lotfi, FNEC FP-FO, Iran state TV, Jacques Paris, Masoud Nikkhah, Rasoul Bodaghi, Shaban Mohammadi

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced the indictment of two French individuals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris. Earlier, Iran state TV had accused the two of having relations with the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations and recent nationwide teachers’ protests.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Rokna, two French nationals  Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris have been indicted.

The spokesperson of the judiciary, Masoud Setayeshi said that on May 8, 2022, the French citizens were arrested and briefed on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”.

A few days after the arrest, Iran state TV claimed that the two French nationals are associated with teachers union activists, Eskandar Lotfi, Masoud Nikkhah, Shaban Mohammadi and Rasoul Bodaghi and accused them of “organizing protests to cause “unrest, chaos, and social disorder”.

Cécile Kohler is a member of the French education union FNEC FP-FO.

Update on Detained Teacher Union Activist Eskandar Lotfi

Posted on by A MN
Freedom of Expression, Labor and Guilds, News
Cécile Kohler, Eskandar Lotfi, Mariwan, Saleh Nikbakht, Teachers’ Trade Associatio

Teacher Eskandar Lotfi, who was detained since May 30, 2022, has been transferred to a location unknown to his lawyer and family.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Eskandar Lotfi, a detained teacher and a member of the Mariwan Teachers’ Trade Association, has been transferred to a location unknown to his lawyer and family.

Eskandar Lotfi has been on hunger strike since his arrest in protest against the unlawful arrest and interrogators’ pressure to make forced confessions.

An informed source close to Lotfi’s family told HRANA that his case has been handed to the Evin Courthouse.

Mr Lotfi’s lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht wrote on social media, “My client, Eskandar Lotfi is on hunger strike for nine days and recently was transferred from Mariwan to an unknown location and his life is in danger.”

Three weeks ago, in a report, a state-controlled TV channel tried to connect the recent detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and her husband, to nationwide teachers’ protests and the teachers’ activists. In response, in a statement, the Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association condemned these attempts to make such connections and allegations. 

On Sunday, May 1, in response to a call by the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Association, the retired and active teachers in 45 cities assembled in front of the building of the Ministry of Education. In Mariwan and Bushehr, these protests were attacked and several protestors were arrested. 

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Update on Arrested European Nationals

Posted on by A MN
News, Other
Arrested European Nationals, Cécile Kohler, French citizens

Two European Nationals who were arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence have been identified as Cécile Kohler, a French teachers’ union official, and her husband. They were visiting Iran as tourists.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on May 11, 2022, without revealing the identities of the individuals arrested, the Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrests of two European nationals for alleged espionage and “association with foreign intelligence services.” These individuals have been recently identified as Cécile Kohler and her husband, two French nationals. 

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Iran to release the two French citizens immediately.

Earlier, the Ministry of Intelligence claimed: “These two European individuals, who had entered the country with the purpose of taking advantage of the people’s will to cause unrest, chaos, and social disorder, were detected and apprehended by security forces.”