Lebanon – L’Orient Le Jour, March 25, 2025
The portraits of French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, detained in Iran since 2022, were displayed on Tuesday on the gates of the National Assembly (the lower house of Parliament), a first meant to show “that we will not forget them and that we will fight,” said the president of the institution.
“This is the first time that the National Assembly has displayed photos of hostages on these gates,” said Yaël Braun-Pivet. “The National Assembly must stand by those who suffer, by the children of the Republic.”
Cécile Kohler’s family was present for the unveiling of the portraits.
“We are very grateful for this beautiful symbol at the National Assembly,” her sister, Noémie Kohler, told the press. “For us, the most important thing is that they do not fall into oblivion.”
“I sometimes feel like I will never see my daughter again, and that is terrible,” said her mother, Mireille Kohler, emotionally. “The more time passes, the harder it is for Cécile and Jacques, but for us too, because we are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Their conditions of detention are particularly harsh,” added Cécile Kohler’s father. “They can leave for half an hour three times a week in a closed courtyard.”
“They don’t have books. They have nothing to occupy their time,” Pascal Kohler added.
