French Benjamin Brière and Franco-Irish Bernard Phelan, who were detained in Mashhad prison in northeastern Iran, have been released, “a relief” for the French authorities who have reiterated their determination to release the four other French still detained. Benjamin Brière, 37, very weakened by a hunger strike, was arrested in May 2020 accused of espionage. Bernard Phelan, 64, tourism consultant, also ill, had been arrested more recently, on October 3, 2022, for attacking national security.
The two men, who have always maintained their innocence, have been released on humanitarian grounds after their state of health has deteriorated considerably in recent months. “The last seven months have been a very difficult ordeal for Bernard and his family and I am happy and relieved that it is now over,” said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. “They benefited from medical care as soon as they left prison. I am delighted that they will soon be able to find their loved ones in Paris”, indicated the French Minister for Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, underlining “France’s determination “to free four other French people still detained in Iran.
Four French nationals remain detained in Iran
According to the Flightradar24 website, a Falcon 900 from Airlec, a specialist in aeromedical transport capable of transporting passengers lying on a stretcher, took off from Mashhad at 2.50 p.m. local time (1.20 p.m. Paris time, 11.20 a.m. GMT) for the airport of Paris-Le Bourget where it should land after 8 p.m. “Thank you to everyone who worked on this outcome,” tweeted Emanuel Macron. “During an exchange this morning with my Iranian counterpart, Mr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, I thanked all those who worked for these releases”, also indicated his Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Free, finally. Benjamin Brière and Bernard Phélan will find their loved ones. It is a relief. I welcome their release. Thank you to everyone who worked on this outcome. We will continue to act for the return of our compatriots still detained in Iran.
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 12, 2023
Four French nationals remain detained in Iran: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, arrested on May 7, 2022, “during a tourist stay”, according to their relatives; a 35-year-old consultant, Louis Arnaud, who was arrested on September 28 in Tehran while visiting the country. Finally, another Frenchman, whose identity has never been made public. The Franco-Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah, arrested in June 2019 and then sentenced to five years in prison for undermining national security, was released on February 10 but she cannot leave Iranian territory for the time being.
“State Hostages”
For months, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tirelessly denounced detentions deemed arbitrary, even speaking of “State hostages”. Like France, other European countries and human rights defenders accuse Tehran of detaining dozens of foreigners under spurious pretexts in a hostage-taking strategy to extract concessions from the West. But faced with a regime that multiplies imprisonment and death sentences, the room for maneuver to free Westerners has been greatly reduced.
Benjamin Brière had been arrested for taking “photographs of prohibited areas” with a recreational drone in a natural park. He had been sentenced to eight years in prison for “espionage” before being acquitted in mid-February. However, he was kept in detention. Bernard Phelan, 64, a tourism consultant, had been arrested while he was traveling as part of his activities as a “consultant in Iran for a tour operator”, his sister Caroline Massé-Phelan explained in January, during from an interview with AFP. In early March, he was sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison on charges of undermining national security which he has always denied.
Heart problem and bone pathology
His arrest came shortly after the outbreak of mass protests in Iran to denounce the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, who died following her arrest by the vice squad for an alleged violation of the dress code for women. The Quai d’Orsay had repeatedly expressed alarm at his state of health, calling on the Iranian authorities to release him for humanitarian reasons and warning that they would be held responsible in the event of a fatal outcome.
Bernard Phelan suffers from a heart problem and a bone pathology requiring medical treatment. A hunger and thirst strike in early January had accelerated the deterioration of his state of health. He had resumed drinking and eating at the request of his family. For his part, Benjamin Brière had started a hunger strike on January 28. He refused to give it up until he regained his freedom, while agreeing to eat intermittently.