An Iranian court has sentenced two French nationals, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, to a combined 63 years in prison on charges of espionage, conspiracy against national security, and aiding Israeli intelligence. Kohler received a total sentence of 31 years, while Paris was handed 32 years.
According to Iranian state media, the pair were accused of spying for France’s intelligence services, conspiring against the Islamic Republic, and assisting Israeli intelligence agencies. The charges include six and ten years respectively for espionage, additional time for conspiracy, and the bulk of their sentences for allegedly aiding Israel.
Kohler and Paris were arrested on May 7, 2022, during a trip to Iran after meeting with teachers involved in labor protests. Authorities claim the two were attempting to incite unrest and collect intelligence under the guise of supporting labor movements. They were detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence branch at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport as they prepared to leave the country. Iranian officials say they found “evidence of espionage,” including communications with foreign contacts, though no details have been made public.
Iran’s judiciary accused the pair of “organizing illegal gatherings” and “acting on behalf of foreign intelligence services.” In 2023, the charges were expanded to include cooperation with Israel’s Mossad. Both Kohler, 69, and Paris, 70, have been held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, which is known for housing political prisoners and foreign detainees. They have 20 days to appeal their sentences to Iran’s Supreme Court, though such appeals rarely succeed in politically sensitive cases.
The sentences come amid a broader Iranian crackdown on alleged foreign espionage. Since its brief 12-day war with Israel in June, Tehran has executed more than a dozen people accused of spying for Israel. Earlier this year, British nationals Lindsay and Craig Foreman were also arrested in Kerman while on a motorcycle tour, accused of gathering intelligence for a foreign power. Their trial remains ongoing.