France lifts the veil on the Mahdieh Esfandiari affair | EUROtoday

On Apr 12, 2025

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HASAlmost a month of silence, the French authorities lastly elevate the veil on the disturbing disappearance of an Iranian nationwide in France, that The level revealed on April 4. “Mahdieh Esfandiari has been in prison in France for a month,” we verify in Paris. The case is within the arms of the judicial police. »»

This 39-year-old French-speaking translator who had lived in Lyon since 2018 was arrested on the spot by the police on February 28 and would have been detained since March 2 in Fresnes jail in Val-de-Marne. The Paris prosecutor’s workplace stated this Saturday that Mahdieh Esfandiari was indicted and imprisoned for the apology of terrorism, confirming info given the day earlier than by France-Télevisions. Read too EXCLUSIVE. The disturbing disappearance of an Iranian in France

On March 17, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry indicated that he had been knowledgeable by France of the arrest of the Iranian nationwide. “We do not know the reason, but we simply know that this respected woman is one of the activists in favor of the Palestinian people and it seems that she has published articles of support for the oppressed people of Gaza,” stated Esmaeil Baghaei Hamaneh throughout her weekly press level.

On social networks, there isn’t any publish of Mahdieh Esfandiari which refers back to the Palestinians, Gaza or Israel. Nevertheless, the impartial journalist and Propalestinian militant Shahin Hazamy signifies on her Instagram account that the younger girl was arrested after having “published on a Telegram channel messages denouncing the current genocide in Gaza”. Since the massacres of Hamas of October 7, 2023, the legislation on the apology for terrorism in France has seen its utility prolonged to the speeches perceived as supporting the Palestinian Islamist motion, which seems on the record of terrorist organizations of the European Union.

Mahdieh Esfandiari, a delicate affair

But for Shahin Hazamy, “this arrest marks a disturbing turning point and testifies to an intensification of the repression targeting those which rise against the crimes in progress in Gaza and denounce the genocide of the Palestinian people”, he denounces on his Instagram account. “In France as in lots of Western nations, solidarity with the Palestinian folks appears increasingly more criminalized, in defiance of the basic rules of freedom of expression. »»

The “Mahdieh Esfandiari affair” started truly on October 30, 2023, when the National Pôle to Combat Haine Online (NLP) was seized of a report by the French Interior Minister referring to the publications of a Telegram account. This account made “the apology of the attacks committed in Israel on October 7, 2023, causing acts of terrorism and insulting the Jewish community,” stated the Paris prosecutor’s workplace to AFP.

Read too Trump’s new bomb, which proclaims “direct” negotiations with IranOn November 7, the PNLH opened a judicial info for on-line public apology for terrorism, specifies the general public prosecutor. “Two members of this active collective invested in the dissemination of apologetic propaganda and provoking terrorism were identified and arrested on February 28, 2025”. Among them is Mahdieh Esfandiari, positioned in pre -trial detention. Investigations are additionally open for “online provocation to terrorism, insults due to origin, religion, and refusal to give unlocking codes, relating to several social media chains (X and Telegram)”, provides the Paris prosecutor’s workplace.

The destiny of Mahdieh Esfandiari remembers that of Bashir Biazar, one other Iranian nationwide Arrested in France in June 2024. Considered as an “agent of influence” within the service of the Islamic Republic of Iran, this 42 -year -old man had been positioned in administrative detention in Metz on June 3, earlier than being expelled from French territory a month later, as severe threats that he would have posed in opposition to “public order and the fundamental interests of the State”. To encourage his expulsion order, the French Ministry of the Interior had already supported her publications in favor of Gaza on social networks.

Two French prisoners in Iran

In Tehran, We then denounced a “political” affair geared toward making a “bargaining” with Iran to be able to get hold of the return of the three French prisoners arbitrarily detained within the Islamic Republic. But the case of Mahdieh Esfandiari appears immediately all of the extra delicate since it’s surrounded by a thick diplomatic veil. This is evidenced by the absence of the slightest public communication from the French authorities about it, coupled with the refusal of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to name for its launch.

“We take the subject seriously to support our fellow citizens and follow the case both through the embassy [d’Iran] In Paris that from the French Embassy in Tehran, Esmaeil Baghaei Haneh, the spokesperson for Iranian diplomacy, assured on April 7. We hope that the French government, in accordance with its international, legal and human rights obligations, will grant consular access as quickly as possible to this Iranian citizen and that the reason why this Iranian citizen has been arrested will be clarified. »»

Read too The underside of the Liberation of Olivier Rumondeau, imprisoned 887 days in IranThe situation of Mahdieh Esfandiari is strangely echoing that of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, the last two French nationals arbitrarily held by Tehran. Considered by France as “state hostages”, these two union teachers were arrested on May 7, 2022 in Iran, where they stayed as tourists. Accused of spying by the Islamic Republic of Iran, they have been detained in atrocious conditions in the prison of Evin in Tehran for more than 1,071 days, without having been judged or having had access to a lawyer.

To uncover

The kangaroo of the day

Answer

Denouncing “unacceptable violations” of the legislation of the 2 French nationals for consular safety, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, introduced on April 2 that France would “soon” file a criticism earlier than the International Court of Justice. Despite the disturbing coincidences, no tangible component for the second permits a proper hyperlink between the 2 circumstances.

However, Paris might quickly give a assure of fine will to Tehran. According to our info, Mahdieh Esfandiari requested the jail authorities to learn from consular entry, and procedures have been began on this route.

https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/l-iranienne-mahdieh-esfandiari-est-bien-emprisonnee-en-france-12-04-2025-2587193_24.php