France plans to take Iran to international court over citizen detentions

France plans to take Iran to international court over citizen detentions

PARIS - Two French citizens held in Iran for almost three years have not had consular services for more than a year prompting Paris to prepare a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), France's foreign ministry said on Thursday. Read more at straitstimes.com.

French diplomatic chief Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday that France would file a complaint against Iran before the ICJ for "infringement of the right to consular protection" of the two detainees, which Paris calls "state hostages".

“We are going to intensify pressure on the Iranian regime” to obtain the release of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were arrested more than a thousand days ago,” said the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, at an audience before the National Assembly. Jean-Noël Barrot also announced “additional” European sanctions against those responsible for Iran's hostage-taking policy “in the coming days”. The two French citizens, a teacher and h…