Families of detained French citizens in Iran plead for proof of life after Israeli prison strike

The families of Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, two French citizens detained in Iran since 2022, have issued urgent pleas for proof the pair is still alive, days after an Israeli strike hit Tehran’s Evin prison where they are held.

Evin prison is known as Iran’s most notorious facility for political prisoners, and where Iran has often held foreign nationals, including Paris and Kohler, who are accused of spying and seeking to stir up unrest. France has called the charges baseless and has demanded their immediate release for three years.

Israel struck the prison on Monday, one of the last targets hit in its 12-day air campaign that ended with a ceasefire the following morning. Iran has said some people died in the attack, but the fate of the French prisoners remained unclear.

France has condemned the strikes on the prison, accusing Israel of putting two of its citizens in danger.

Vous avez sans doute vu passer cette vidéo de l'explosion de la porte de la prison d'Evin, en Iran, lundi. Elle a été reprise par tous les médias.
Comme noté par @talhagin, tout porte à croire qu'elle a été générée par IA (alors mm que l'entrée de la prison a bien été détruite). pic.twitter.com/Tm8bNGPMkB

— Brice Le Borgne (@BriceLeBorgne) June 25, 2025

“We are desperate, terrorized,” says Anne-Laure Paris, daughter of Jacques, calling on Iranian authorities to provide immediate evidence that the pair survived and to secure their release within hours.

According to their families, the last confirmed contact with the prisoners was on May 30 during a consular visit.

“No one, not us, the families, or the French authorities, have been able to make direct contact with them,” Noemie Kohler, Cecile’s sister, says.

“We are waiting for an immediate sign of life from Cécile and Jacques… to make sure they are really okay and they are really alive.”