The family of Benjamin Brier, a former French prisoner in Iran, announced on Saturday that he has become 'very weak both physically and mentally.' In a press statement, the Brier family said, 'After three hellish years, we were able to embrace him at 7:30 PM on Friday, May 12.' According to them, Benjamin has calmed down and is trying to understand the reality that 'he is here with us.' They noted that his 'very weak' physical and mental condition means that his return to normal life will require a long and very difficult time. The Brier family further stated that they are now focusing on five other French 'hostages' who are still detained in Iran. They also expressed solidarity with the families of all 'European hostages' in Iran, adding, 'We send them strength and courage, and we will continue to fight alongside them.' Brier, who was imprisoned in Iran for three years, was released on Friday along with Bernard Filan, a French-Irish citizen who had been detained since October, and both were returned to their homeland. Western countries have labeled the imprisonment of their citizens by the Islamic Republic as 'political hostage-taking' and have repeatedly called for an end to this 'cruel' practice. However, the Islamic Republic continues to detain and imprison Western and dual citizens based on accusations such as 'espionage' and 'actions against national security,' rejecting the views of Western parties without providing any evidence.
Benjamin Brier's Family Embraced Him 'After Three Hellish Years'
Benjamin Brier, a French citizen imprisoned in Iran for three years, was reunited with his family, who expressed concern over his weakened state. His family is now focusing on other French hostages still detained in Iran, highlighting ongoing issues of political hostage-taking by the Iranian government.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Benjamin Brier, a French citizen imprisoned in Iran for three years, was reunited with his family, who expressed concern over his weakened state. His family is now focusing on other French hostages still detained in Iran, highlighting ongoing issues of political hostage-taking by the Iranian government.
- Brier was released along with another detainee, Bernard Filan.
- The Brier family is advocating for the release of five other French hostages still in Iran.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of detaining foreign nationals, often citing national security concerns, which many Western countries view as politically motivated hostage-taking.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%