700 Days Without Information on ‘Cecile Kohler’

The family of “Cecile Kohler,” a French citizen imprisoned in Iran, has been without information about her condition for 700 days.

“Cecile Kohler” is a member of the Education and Culture Federation of France’s Labor Union Confederation who, along with her husband “Jacques Perry,” traveled to Iran on a tourist visa and was detained during the worldwide labor day gatherings in April 2022.

Five months after their arrest, televised confessions by Cecile and her husband were broadcast, and they were accused of espionage. “Naomi Kohler,” Cecile’s sister, says that nearly 700 days have passed since Cecile and her husband’s detention, but little information about her condition is available.

According to the British newspaper “The Guardian” and statements by Naomi Kohler, Cecile’s detention has caused pain and suffering for her father, mother, and entire family. Naomi stated about her sister’s condition: “Despite great efforts by the French government for Cecile’s release, no progress has been made so far.” She appealed to the European Union to work toward Cecile’s release and called on Iranian officials to free her sister.

Regarding the broadcast of her sister Cecile’s confessions on television, Naomi Kohler said: “The first thing I saw in the video was my sister saying ‘I am a French spy,’ and that was the worst day of my life. Many people told me that at least we knew she was alive, but it was devastating for me.”

Naomi added in her statements: “I was always very afraid that she would be placed in solitary confinement and under psychological pressure, and when I saw the video, my fear was confirmed. I can only imagine what condition my sister must have been in before the video confession was recorded.”

The Islamic Republic system does not shy away from any torture, harassment, and mistreatment of defendants accused under false pretenses of actions against national security or espionage. Many innocent prisoners who have been subjected to torture by regime agents have not withstood the torture and have lost their lives, and this issue is not limited only to spies or political figures, but also extends to religious minorities including Christians, Bahai’s, Sunni Muslims, human rights defenders, child rights activists, women, civil rights activists, and other religious dissidents.