ژورنال سایت خبری سیاسی ژورنال
English Journal is published on Fridays
PDF-English Journal-17 October 2025-No34
Tehran’s Revolutionary Court has sentenced two French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, to over 30 years each—۶۳ years in total—on charges of “espionage” and “intelligence cooperation with Israel.” Both have been in detention since March 2023. The French government has called the accusations “baseless.” The verdicts are preliminary and subject to appeal at the Supreme Court within 20 days. Officials of the Islamic Republic have hinted that the case may serve as diplomatic leverage for the release of an Iranian national held abroad. The Revolutionary Courts are typically closed to the public, and defendants rarely have full access to case files. France has repeatedly demanded their release and stronger diplomatic intervention.
In recent years, the Islamic Republic has increasingly used the detention of foreign or dual nationals as political and diplomatic bargaining chips. The pattern is familiar: sudden arrest, secret trials, vague national security charges, and lengthy prison sentences later used in negotiations for concessions or prisoner swaps—often involving operatives of the Islamic Republic convicted in transparent trials under the rule of law in Western countries. These hostage-takings have, in turn, made ever clearer to the world the inhuman nature of the regime that has taken the Iranian people hostage for decades.
To counter this effectively, specific, coordinated and multi-layered international action is essential. First, coordinated diplomatic pressure—through joint statements, downgrading or suspension of bilateral relations—if Iran denies consular access or refuses unconditional release. Second, targeted sanctions against individuals and institutions involved in detentions and sham trials, including asset freezes and visa bans. Third, the use of international legal mechanisms: filing complaints to UN human rights bodies, regular reporting, and, where possible, referral to international courts. Fourth, sustained media and legal support for detainees and their families to increase transparency. And fifth, regional and multilateral cooperation to prevent the exploitation of dual nationals in political negotiations. These measures must combine public protest with legal, diplomatic and economic pressure to raise the cost of this state policy and speed up the release of hostages.
At the same time, all covert diplomacy used by Western governments to date must be condemned. We denounce these arrests and opaque trials. The use of human beings as bargaining tools is unacceptable. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and hostages—foreign nationals and dual citizens alike—without delay.
Editor: Patty Debonitas
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