Frenchman Benjamin Brière, acquitted on appeal in mid-February, is still imprisoned in Iran

detained since the end of May 2020 then sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for espionage, the Frenchman “was not released by the Guardians of the Revolution, who maintain him imprisoned”, according to his lawyer.

mo12345lemonde with AFP

Benjamin Brière’s nightmare is still not over. Detained in Iran since the end of May 2020 and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for espionage, the Frenchman was “paid for all charges” on appeal on February 15 but remains imprisoned, told the France-Presse (AFP ) his lawyer and his family, who denounce a “totally ubiquitous situation”.

After the acquittal verdict, the Court ordered the next day “its immediate release”, but the Frenchman, on hunger strike since January 28, “was not released by revolution guards, Who keep him imprisoned “, according to his French lawyer, Philippe Valent.

“At the last moment, he was blocked” and remains incarcerated in Vakilabad prison in Machhad (northeast), explained Mr. worth by denouncing “an incredible psychological violence” to regard to Mr. Brière and his family. “We demand respect by the Iranian regime of court decisions,” he added.

“emotional elevator”

“We are in total misunderstanding,” Blandine Brière, the prisoner’s sister, told AFP, who was able to speak to her on Sunday. “He is in an emotional elevator,” she said, explaining that the family had not made the court decision public in the hope that the situation would unlock.

m. Brière, who has always presented himself as a tourist, had been arrested in May 2020 for taking “photographs of prohibited areas” with a leisure drone in a natural park.

In total, six French people are detained in Iran. And researcher Fariba Adelkhah was released on February 10 after three and a half years in prison but ignores whether she recovered all her rights, including leaving Iran. France has denounced for months a “hostage diplomacy” led by the Iranian regime.

/Media reports cited above.