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04:06 AM UTC · SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026 LA ERA · Global
May 9, 2026 · Updated 04:06 AM UTC
International

Former French hostages recount four-year ordeal in Iran

Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris have shared their first television interview since returning to France after being detained in Iran on espionage charges.

Isabel Moreno

1 min read

Former French hostages recount four-year ordeal in Iran
Former French hostages Cecile Kohler and Jacques/Jacques Paris

French citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris spoke publicly for the first time since their release from Iranian custody, detailing their four-year imprisonment in Iran.

The pair, who were held on espionage charges, described a period of intense psychological pressure and what they characterized as 'total dehumanisation' during their detention.

In their first television interview following their return to France, the former hostages recounted the specifics of their time in Iranian prisons. They spoke about the daily struggle to maintain hope while facing long-term incarceration.

Life in detention

The interview provided a rare look into the conditions faced by the two French nationals. They detailed the methods used to undermine their sense of self during the nearly four years they spent behind bars.

While the pair shared details on how they managed to preserve their mental resilience, the focus of their testimony remained on the systemic nature of their treatment. The interview serves as the first public account of their experience since their recent repatriation.

Their release follows years of diplomatic tension regarding the detention of foreign nationals in Iran. The duo's return to France marks the end of a high-profile legal and diplomatic saga involving espionage allegations.

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