![]() Occasional releases of Europeans from Iranian prisons are widely viewed as part of a cynical and delicate bid for favors. The broadcaster said he was in jail in France for more than a year. The Iranian TV report said French authorities planned to deliver Ruhollahnejad to the United States for his alleged role in violating U.S. His release came hours after French authorities released Jalal Ruhollahnejad, Iranian state TV said at the time. She was accused of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic’s political system” and “collusion to undermine national security.”Ībdelkhah’s companion, academic Roland Marchal, was freed in 2020, a year after his arrest in an apparent prisoner swap. She was released before then to serve part of her five-year sentence under house arrest but was ordered re-imprisoned in January 2022. France identified the two as a teachers’ union official and her partner on vacation in Iran.įrench-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, who was arrested in 2019, was freed from prison in February. ![]() The French citizens include Cecile Kohler, 37, and Chuck Paris, 69, who were arrested on May 7, 2022, after meeting with protesting Iranian teachers and taking part in an anti-government rally. Martin said that freeing the two prisoners was a team effort carried out “in very challenging circumstances.” “We cannot tell you to what point we are relieved,” Phelan’s sister, Caroline, said in a statement, noting that her brother had been held for more than 200 days.Ĭolonna, addressing colleagues Friday at a European Union foreign ministers’ meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, rejoiced with her Irish counterpart, Michael Martin, over the prisoners regaining their freedom. Phelan was sentenced to spend more than six years in jail. He was detained during the anti-government protests that began sweeping the country after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was taken by the country’s morality police for wearing her hijab too loosely, died in custody, IRNA reported. Phelan, 64, who holds both French and Irish nationality, was arrested seven months ago while visiting Iran for consulting activities for a tour company, according to French daily newspaper Le Parisien. ![]() He was convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years and eight months in prison, then reportedly acquitted this year.
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