A French tourist, Olivier Grondeau, who was detained by Iranian authorities for over two years, has been released and returned to France, according to President Emmanuel Macron. Grondeau, 34, is now free and reunited with his family, which has sparked immense happiness and relief among his loved ones, Macron wrote on X.
Grondeau was arrested in southern Iran in October 2022 and sentenced to five years in prison for “conspiracy against the Islamic republic.” However, his family has consistently denied these charges. The Iranian regime has a history of arresting tourists and dual nationals on similar charges.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot shared a picture of Grondeau on a plane heading back home, emphasizing the relief after being held captive in Iran for 887 days. In his first public statement since his arrest in January, Grondeau stated that he was being held hostage by the authorities. His family has described him as an avid fan of Persian poetry who initially traveled to Iran on a tourist visa as part of a world tour.
There are currently two other French citizens being held in Iran – Cecile Kohler, a teacher, and her partner Jacques Paris. They were detained in May 2022 and accused of seeking to incite protests, a claim their families have denied. There is growing concern over their health, and France has repeatedly called for their release. Macron called for their freedom in his recent post.
Human rights organizations contend that tourists and dual nationals are often detained in order to gain leverage in diplomatic negotiations, and are released only when Iran gains something in return. In addition, last month, the British Foreign Office confirmed the detention of a British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who have been charged with espionage and held in the southeastern city of Kerman.
This situation follows the recent release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala who spent weeks in an Iranian jail in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison before returning to Rome in January.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yxzp5k919o
