Tag: Cécile Kohler

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. 

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.”