Iran confirms arrest of French-Iranian academic
Iran’s judiciary yesterday confirmed the arrest of French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah, after the French foreign ministry said she had been detained and denied contact with consular staff.
“She is among suspects that have been recently arrested,” judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said, without specifying the accusations against her.
“Now is not an appropriate time to give more information on this case,” Esmaili told reporters at a news conference broadcast by the jucidiary’s news website Mizan Online.
The detention of Adelkhah, a well-known expert on Iran and Shia Islam at France’s prestigious Sciences Po university, risks increasing tension between Paris and Tehran at a critical moment in efforts to save a landmark 2015 nuclear deal.
On Monday French President Emmanuel Macron called on Tehran to explain why Adelkhah had been arrested, expressing concern for her welfare.
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