In a poignant ceremony at the French National Assembly, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, the last French hostages detained in Iran, were reunited with the nation and fellow former captives. The event, held on Tuesday, marked their formal return after nearly four years of imprisonment.
A Symbolic Gesture of Freedom
The emotional highlight came as Kohler and Paris removed their portraits, which had been displayed outside the Palais Bourbon throughout their captivity. “We have turned them around, which means we are turning the page today, we are free,” declared 72-year-old retired teacher Jacques Paris. He described how seeing an inadvertent shot of those portraits on Iranian state television had been a “great comfort” and a sign they were not forgotten during their time in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.
Solidarity with Those Still Suffering
Cécile Kohler, a 41-year-old literature teacher, expressed ongoing solidarity. “We wish to express our solidarity with Iranian prisoners who are in arbitrary detention in their country, and also with Iranians who are caught between two fires—on one side repression, on the other war,” she stated. The ceremony was attended by National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and their families.
Reunion with Fellow Former Captives
The gathering held deeper significance as it included other French citizens recently freed from Iran: Louis Arnaud, Olivier Grondeau, and Benjamin Brière. Brière, arrested in 2020 while traveling Iran in a van and imprisoned for three years, was visibly moved. Since his own release, he has been deeply involved in supporting hostages’ families and aiding their reintegration.
Parliamentary Ovation and Unfinished Business
Later, the former hostages received a standing ovation from lawmakers during a government question session. While celebrating these returns, officials highlighted ongoing cases. Braun-Pivet affirmed that “the Republic never abandons its children,” specifically mentioning French journalist Christophe Gleizes, imprisoned in Algeria since June 2023 and sentenced to seven years for “apology of terrorism.” Minister Barrot assured that France remains “totally” mobilized to secure his release.
The ceremony served as both a celebration of hard-won freedom and a reminder of the persistent struggle for citizens detained abroad.
