Jacques Paris on Harsh Detention Conditions

French nationals Jacques Paris and Cécile Kohler returned to France on April 8, 2026, following more than three years of detention in Iran. Upon their arrival in Paris, the pair were received by President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.

Paris, 72, and Kohler, 41, are teachers from Nantes. They were arrested on May 7, 2022, during the final day of a tourist trip to Iran. The Iranian government accused both individuals of espionage.

According to the French government, the sentences handed down to the two nationals were severe. Cécile Kohler was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Jacques Paris was sentenced to 17 years.

Timeline of Release

The process of their liberation occurred in stages. While they were released from prison in early November 2025, they were not immediately permitted to leave the Islamic Republic of Iran. Instead, they were assigned to residence at the French embassy in Tehran.

The restriction on leaving Iranian territory remained in place until April 7, 2026. They landed in France on the morning of April 8, 2026, where they expressed immense happiness at being reunited with their families.

Testimony on Detention

During a meeting in the garden of the Élysée following a long discussion with President Macron, Jacques Paris provided initial testimony regarding the conditions they faced while in custody. He described the experience as the horror daily and characterized the pair as state hostages.

We have been treated in extremely difficult conditions. One could even say that our detention conditions were inhumane.

Jacques Paris

Paris stated that the conditions were intended to break their spirit and drain their energy. However, he asserted that they remained resilient.

We are not broken, we are going to testify.

Jacques Paris