PARIS: Tehran on Friday released two French nationals jailed in separate cases, France said, asking Iran to release several other citizens still detained in the country.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that Bernard Phelan and Benjamin Briere were freed from jail in Mashhad. The minister said that they are their way to France. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter: “Free, finally. Bernard Phelan and Benjamin Briere can reunite with their families. It is a relief”.
Two jailed French nationals released from Iranian jail
Bernard Phelan, a Paris-based travel advisor, was captured in October in Mashhad. In April, he was jailed for 6 years on national security allegations strongly denied by his family. With Tehran rocked by anti-government protests since September, Bernard Phelan was accused of taking images of a burned mosque and police officials, and sending pictures to a British news outlet, the family added.
Bernard Phelan’s family said his health deteriorated in detention. Bernard Phelan went on the hunger strike in January to record his protest but stopped the action at the request of his family. –APP
