Two Iranians are set to be expelled from France, the Government of France has declared. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the decision, calling it a direct result of “the recent and intolerable treatment of the French diplomatic staff by Tehran’s authorities.
The crisis quickly worsened after an event on July 19. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reports that two French envoys, one cultural, were held and severely physically intimidated by Iranian security forces. The actions were an egregious violation of diplomatic immunity, French officials strongly condemned.
The Iranians, in turn, made it clear in a letter to Paris that these two French diplomats would not return to Iran. Iran’s government strongly rejected the claims of abuse, saying the envoys were just questioned after they became part of a large-scale foreign meddling in Iran’s affairs intended to sabotage its independence.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a basic UN-backed international document, was violated by the French staff in the Tehran, the intelligence agency said. Iranian authorities accused the diplomats of “active interference” in Iran’s domestic affairs through the support of Iranian civil society networks. The diplomats were active in Iran’s civil society networks and actively interfering in Iran’s domestic affairs, Iranian officials said.
Tehran’s story was flatly rejected by the French authorities. A Paris spokesperson said Iran had deliberately fabricated allegations of interference to allow it “to go on aggressive and illegal action against foreign agents.
This diplomatic matter coincides with the arrest of two well-known Iranian graphic design artists, Aria Kasaei and Elly Naghilou. According to supporters, the two artists were arrested in the process of a private meeting with the French diplomats in Tehran’s residence.According to supporters, the two creatives were arrested during a private meeting with the French diplomats in Tehran’s residence. The group was meeting to decide on the visual identity for a cultural project called Villa Zadig.
Those who support the detained designers have raised an urgent call for their safety, fundamental rights and right to independent legal representation. They have also called on Paris to thoroughly examine the circumstances of the arrests, noting that French officials personally observed some of the events, which led to their own arrests.
Detentions are taking place as Iran deals with a larger crackdown. Many people and groups have condemned what is happening. Staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, plus other monitors, say the Iranian government has increased pressure on civil society. They link it to recent protests and the unrest in the region.
More than 30 countries have now spoken out against Tehran. France is one of them. They say Tehran is relying more on the death penalty to stop dissent.
