Iran announced on Tuesday that it had arrested two French nationals this month on charges of trying to stir up unrest by meeting with representatives of teachers’ unions, state television reported.
Television broadcast a video report of the citizens, a 37-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, from their arrival in the Islamic Republic on 28 April until their detention on 7 May.
State TV reported that Iran’s Ministry of Security (Intelligence) observed two people while organizing and coordinating meetings with some people who introduced themselves as teachers’ union members, adding that they were “trying to organize a demonstration to cause riots. “This is an arrested French citizen, in English: “This is a battle to get through to the majority of Iranians.” The person who should be another detainee also speaks in English: “We must create a revolutionary package.” On May 11, the Ministry of Security announced the arrests of two citizens of a European country on suspicion of seeking to “destabilize” the country without specifying their nationality.
Then on Thursday, France’s foreign ministry said they were French, without specifying their identities, condemning the arrest, which it deemed “unfounded.” He called for their immediate release.
Several teachers’ meetings have been held in Iranian cities for several months calling for the speedy implementation of reforms related to wages and pensions, and teachers have also called for the release of colleagues arrested during previous protests. There are a number of foreigners in Iran, most of whom have dual citizenship. This has been criticized by international human rights organizations accusing Iran of using these detainees as pressure cards in any negotiations with the West. The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch recently called for the release of some 40 teachers arrested during Labor Day demonstrations across the country.
