French Prosecutor Seeks Jail Term for Iranian Woman Accused of Terrorism

 

France – RFI, Jan. 16, 2026

A French prosecutor has called for a four-year prison sentence, with three years suspended, for an Iranian woman accused of promoting “terrorism” online. The case is linked to a possible prisoner swap involving French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were released from jail in Tehran but have not yet been allowed to leave Iran.

Mahdieh Esfandiari, 39, was arrested in France in February on charges of promoting and inciting “tterrorism” on social media. The offences carry a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of up to €100,000.

She’s accused of writing posts for a channel called “Axis of the Resistance” in 2023 and 2024 on platforms including Telegram, X, Twitch and YouTube.

In particular, the organisation’s Telegram account glorified the deadly attack carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on 7 October 2023 in Israel, incited terrorist acts and insulted the Jewish community.

Read More

 

YOU MAY READ

A Birthday Without His Presence
On every birthday, Min Zin typically reflects back on his life's journey and shares commemorative posts containing his deep thoughts on his social media. This year, we will not have the opportunity to read his new reflections. Spending his birthday silently in unseen darkness while being wrongfully detained is heartbreaking and deeply saddening for his family and friends.
READ MORE →
Motorbike Ride Marks 614 Days in Iran Prison
The detention of a couple held in Iran "should shock people" as their time being held reaches over 600 days, their family has said.
READ MORE →
See more