Mother of French Prisoner: Tehran Officials Know My Child is Innocent

The mother of Olivier Grando, a French citizen who has been imprisoned in Iran for over two years, says that the officials of the Islamic Republic know her son is 'innocent,' yet they continue to keep him in custody. Olivier Grando is a French writer and bookseller who traveled to Iran during his global tour and was arrested on October 12, 2022, at his hotel in Shiraz, coinciding with the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. For two years, he asked his family to keep his case confidential to avoid hindering diplomatic efforts for his release. After these efforts reached a deadlock, he decided to reveal his identity by releasing an audio file. Olivier's mother, Therese Grando, told the British newspaper The Guardian that she was unaware of her son's status for weeks after his arrest and did not know if he was alive or hospitalized. She described this period as the darkest hours of her life. Olivier Grando was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of 'gathering information with the intent to deliver it to hostile intelligence services,' which he firmly denies, insisting on his innocence. In an audio message broadcast on Monday by the French radio network 'France Inter,' Grando revealed his identity for the first time and stated that he and two other French detainees in Iran are 'exhausted.' The other two French citizens currently held in Iran are a teacher named Cecile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris, who were arrested in May 2022. They are accused of attempting to incite labor protests, charges their families vehemently deny. In his audio message, Olivier addressed French officials, saying, 'You who have the power to influence this matter, hear this truth.' He added, 'The strength and ability of Cecile, Jacques, and Olivier -- all are deteriorating. It is your responsibility to act for the survival of three human beings.' Therese Grando further stated that Olivier's phone calls from Evin prison are always monitored by guards, and while it was easier to make calls when he was in Shiraz prison, in Evin, they never know when he will call. She also mentioned that after his initial transfer to Evin, he was placed in an overcrowded cell and had to sleep on the floor. Olivier Grando's identity was revealed a few days after the release of Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, which the Italian Prime Minister's office, led by Giorgia Meloni, described as the result of 'intensive work through diplomatic and intelligence channels.' Therese Grando remarked that diplomatic efforts cannot be compared and expressed her happiness for Cecilia's release, hoping that others would also be freed soon. The Islamic Republic typically arrests dual citizens and foreign nationals on charges such as 'acting against national security' and 'espionage,' but does not provide clear evidence to substantiate these accusations. Human rights activists and European governments believe that the Islamic Republic uses these prisoners as hostages for bargaining and gaining concessions.