A French citizen, Olivier Grondeau, has been released from an Iranian prison after being held for over 880 days on espionage charges that he and his family vigorously denied. His release comes ahead of the Persian New Year, Nowruz, when Iran typically releases prisoners.
Grondeau was arrested in October 2022 during the Mahsa Amini protests and was subjected to harsh treatment while in detention, including solitary confinement for 72 days. He spoke publicly about his experiences from prison, saying that Iranian authorities demanded he reveal who he met during his trip and whether he participated in demonstrations.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that France did not provide anything in exchange for Grondeau’s liberation, but rather used “different means” to secure his release. The news of Grondeau’s release was welcomed by French officials, but his lawyer noted that the continued detention of two other French citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who have been held for over 1,000 days, is a concern.
Iran has not immediately acknowledged Grondeau’s release, despite an image circulating of him on a private jet flying home with a plastic-wrapped T-shirt featuring pop star Britney Spears. The release comes as France and Europe are trying to restart talks with Iran over its nuclear program, with US President Donald Trump sending a letter to the country’s Supreme Leader seeking negotiations.
Grondeau’s family had previously described him as a fan of Beyoncé and karaoke in interviews with French media. His mother said he was a human being who had been “stocked away indefinitely” due to politics, highlighting the complexities surrounding his imprisonment.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/french-citizen-olivier-grondeau-freed-061717839.html