Two-minute read
On February 1, 2025, a demonstration took place in front of the Panthéon in Paris to demand the release of six French citizens still detained in Iran and to protest Tehran’s treatment of political prisoners. The rally was also held to mark the 1,000th day of detention for Cécile Kohler, a French teacher imprisoned in Iran. Family members, colleagues, and prominent French figures, including former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, participated, condemning Iran’s practice of hostage diplomacy and calling for immediate action.
Among the speakers was Louis Arnault, a former French hostage who was imprisoned for two years before his release in June 2024. He provided firsthand testimony of the conditions inside Iran’s prisons and expressed deep concern for Iranian political prisoners currently facing execution.
Arnault described the harsh conditions in Iranian detention centers, where prisoners are routinely mistreated, and political detainees are singled out for particularly brutal punishment. He recounted his experience of being confined with Behrouz Ehsani, an Iranian political prisoner sentenced to death for being affiliated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). Arnault recalled how Ehsani, despite the imminent threat to his life, remained steadfast and unshaken, refusing to bow to his captors.
Témoignage de l'ancien #otage français Louis Arnaud libéré des prisons des mollahs #Iran sur la résistance devant les geôliers, de ses 2 compagnons de cellule Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani#StopExecutionsInIran@amnestyfrance @AttiasDominique @AssoECPM pic.twitter.com/5Nu5VFsjgq
— Behzad Naziri (@BehzadNaziri) February 3, 2025
During their time together in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, Ehsani served as a symbol of resilience. Arnault recounted how Ehsani never once lowered his head, instead confronting his captors with defiant words: Isn’t it shameful? It’s easy to play the oppressor when you have someone in your grip, but with this behavior, you insult all of humanity.
Arnault recalled that in their last conversation, Ehsani told him, I have never bargained for my life. It is a small price to pay for the freedom of my people. His words, spoken with unwavering conviction, left a lasting impression on the Frenchman, who now speaks on behalf of those still trapped behind bars. Arnault described Ehsani as an inspiration, someone who carried himself with dignity even in the darkest moments of imprisonment.
Before being taken away, Ehsani declared that he was willing to give his life for the cause of freedom. His message, sent from inside prison, reaffirms his steadfastness: “I have never bargained for my life, and I am ready to sacrifice my small existence for the liberation of the Iranian people.”
On Sunday in Paris, protesters demanded the release of French nationals detained in Iran. Louis Arnaud called out the regime's hostage policies and highlighted the cases of Behrouz Ehsani & Mehdi Hassani, facing execution. #Iran #FreeIran2025 pic.twitter.com/7VCo8Z9Jvz
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) February 3, 2025
The rally in Paris, attended by human rights activists and former detainees, called for increased international pressure on Tehran to halt the execution of political prisoners. Protesters also urged European governments to take a firmer stance against the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses.
Arnault, visibly moved by his time with Ehsani, emphasized the need for unity in opposing Iran’s use of political prisoners as leverage. He urged European leaders to take decisive action and not allow themselves to be manipulated by Tehran’s tactics of hostage diplomacy. He also highlighted the plight of others on death row, including Mehdi Hassani, another PMOI supporter, who was arrested in 2022 and has faced severe mistreatment in detention.
The rally underscored growing concerns about Iran’s human rights record, as well as the broader issue of state-sponsored hostage-taking. As Ehsani and others continue to await execution, calls for international intervention are mounting. Protesters warned that failure to act now would only embolden Iran’s authorities to continue using repression as a tool for maintaining power.