France will file a legal complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice on Friday, accusing Tehran of violating international law by denying consular access to two French citizens detained since 2022. The move, announced by foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine, follows growing frustration in Paris over what officials call “inhumane” conditions faced by Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris. The pair have been held in Tehran’s Evin Prison for the past three years.
Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher, and Paris, her partner in his 70s, were arrested on May 7, 2022, during a tourist visit to Iran. They were later shown on Iranian state television appearing to confess to espionage.
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France strongly denies that the two are spies. They are the last known French nationals detained in Iran and are seen by French officials as state hostages.
The French foreign ministry has described their treatment—24-hour lighting, limited outdoor access, psychological pressure, and minimal contact with family—as tantamount to torture under international law.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that France is working “tirelessly” for their release, while President Emmanuel Macron described the country’s support for the pair as “unwavering.”
France’s legal action comes amid heightened tensions with Iran over its nuclear program and the continued detention of European nationals. Iranian authorities have denied wrongdoing. The families of the detainees hope the complaint in The Hague will increase international pressure, though diplomats have said it is unlikely to yield immediate results.