French banking consultant Louis Arnaud, who was detained in Iran for almost two years, has finally been released and reunited with his family at an airport near Paris. Arnaud, in his 30s, was arrested in September 2022 on charges of participating in anti-government protests and spreading anti-government propaganda. He was sentenced to five years in jail in 2023.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his relief at Arnaud’s release, thanking Oman for their assistance in securing his freedom and calling on Iran to release three other French prisoners. The other prisoners include teacher Cécile Kohler, her partner Jacques Paris, and a man known only as Olivier.
Arnaud’s family had previously stated that he was detained while celebrating a backpacker’s birthday during his travels in Iran. All other detainees from the group, including foreigners, have since been released. Arnaud was held at the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, where human rights abuses have been reported.
The release of Arnaud comes at a time of strained relations between France and Iran, with France condemning the arbitrary detention of its citizens and expressing concerns over Iran’s activities in the Middle East and its nuclear program. Macron called for the immediate release of the remaining French prisoners and emphasized the need for improved bilateral relations.
