Iran | Un couple français risque la peine de mort pour espionnage en faveur d'Israël

Deux Français détenus en Iran depuis plus de trois ans ont été formellement inculpés d'espionnage pour le compte du Mossad, l'agence de renseignement israélienne. Cécile Kohler et son compagnon, Jacques Paris, sont également accusés de complot visant à renverser le régime et de l'accusation générale de « corruption sur terre » – un délit passible, comme les autres, de la peine de mort.

Kohler, professeure de littérature de 40 ans, et Paris, son compagnon de 72 ans, ont été arrêtés le 7 mai 2022 à la fin d'un voyage touristique en Iran. Leur situation juridique est longtemps restée floue, laissant leurs familles dans l'angoisse et sans réponse.

Récemment, cependant, des sources diplomatiques et une visite consulaire ont confirmé que les autorités iraniennes avaient formellement inculpé les deux hommes. « Nous avons été informés de ces accusations », a déclaré une source diplomatique française à l'AFP, les qualifiant de « totalement infondées ». Aucune date de procès ni condamnation n'ont été annoncées, et Téhéran n'a pas confirmé publiquement ces accusations.

Le couple s'est vu refuser l'accès à une représentation juridique indépendante, ce qui a aggravé l'angoisse de leurs proches en France. Un groupe de soutien, « Libérez Cécile », a publié sur X : « Cécile et Jacques sont innocents. Ces accusations sont absurdes. Ce sont des enseignants, une fille, une sœur, un père, des amis, des collègues. Des gens simples et généreux, que nous aimons et qui nous manquent. Ils ne méritent pas ce qu'ils endurent depuis plus de trois ans.»

La sœur de Cécile, Noémie Kohler, s'est exprimée après une rare visite du chargé d'affaires français à Téhéran. « Ils n'ont toujours pas d'avocats de confiance », a-t-elle déclaré. « Tout ce que nous savons, c'est qu'ils ont vu un juge qui a retenu ces accusations.» La situation du couple s'est aggravée suite aux récentes violences.

Le 23 juin, la prison d'Evin, où Kohler et Paris étaient détenus, a été bombardée lors d'une frappe que les autorités iraniennes imputent à Israël. L'attaque aurait fait 79 morts. Bien que Kohler et Paris soient indemnes, ils ont été profondément choqués et ont ensuite été transférés vers des lieux inconnus. « Cécile n'a pas dormi depuis l'attentat », a déclaré sa sœur. « Elle est terrifiée à l'idée que cela se reproduise. » Après un bref séjour à la prison de Qarchak, Kohler a eu les yeux bandés et a été relogée une fois de plus. On ignore où elle se trouve actuellement, même elle.

Pendant ce temps, Jacques Paris dormirait à même le sol d'une cellule vide. Il ne porte pas de lunettes adaptées à sa vue qui se dégrade, et sa santé physique et mentale devient une source d'inquiétude croissante pour sa famille.

Le gouvernement français continue de faire pression [sans doute en organisant un déjeuner de rencontre et de discussion à l'Elysée — DPN] pour leur libération, réaffirmant que la sécurité du couple est une priorité absolue [ MDR — DPN]. Le ministre des Affaires étrangères, Jean-Noël Barrot, a confirmé qu'un diplomate français avait été autorisé à leur rendre visite – sous haute surveillance – pendant 35 minutes dans un établissement au sud de Téhéran. Pour la première fois depuis des mois, le couple a pu se voir lors de cette visite [donc avancée majeure dans ce dossier — DPN].

Les responsables français et européens sont de plus en plus convaincus que Kohler et Paris sont instrumentalisés politiquement dans la « diplomatie des otages » iranienne, une stratégie visant à obtenir des concessions dans un contexte de négociations nucléaires bloquées et de pressions pour la levée des sanctions économiques.

Source: Agence France-Press, Staff, July 3, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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