This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/french-researchers-in-iranian-jail-petition-to-get-married/2020/02/07/32200328-4984-11ea-8a1f-de1597be6cbc_story.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| French researchers in Iranian jail petition to get married | French researchers in Iranian jail petition to get married |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| TEHRAN, Iran — Two French researchers held for months in a Tehran prison on charges of violating Iran’s state security laws have petitioned prison authorities to allow them to get married, their lawyer said Friday. | TEHRAN, Iran — Two French researchers held for months in a Tehran prison on charges of violating Iran’s state security laws have petitioned prison authorities to allow them to get married, their lawyer said Friday. |
| The two — Fariba Adelkhah Adelkhah and Roland Marchal, both in their 60s — filed separate requests to Evin prison authorities, according to their lawyer, Saeid Dehghan. He also expressed concerns for Adelkhah’s deteriorating health amid a hunger strike that she has been on since December. | The two — Fariba Adelkhah Adelkhah and Roland Marchal, both in their 60s — filed separate requests to Evin prison authorities, according to their lawyer, Saeid Dehghan. He also expressed concerns for Adelkhah’s deteriorating health amid a hunger strike that she has been on since December. |
| Iranian officials disclosed last July that Adelkhah, a dual French-Iranian national and a prominent anthropologist who often traveled to Iran for research on post-revolutionary Iranian society, had been arrested on espionage charges. Those charges were later dropped but security-related charges remain against her. | Iranian officials disclosed last July that Adelkhah, a dual French-Iranian national and a prominent anthropologist who often traveled to Iran for research on post-revolutionary Iranian society, had been arrested on espionage charges. Those charges were later dropped but security-related charges remain against her. |
| Adelkhah’s fellow researcher Marchal was arrested as he tried to visit her, France revealed in October. He is being held in a men’s ward in Evin on charges of spreading propaganda. | Adelkhah’s fellow researcher Marchal was arrested as he tried to visit her, France revealed in October. He is being held in a men’s ward in Evin on charges of spreading propaganda. |
| In December, France summoned Iranian envoy to Paris, saying it considered the months-long detention of Adelkhah and Marchal “unacceptable” and sought permission for consular officials to visit them. | |
| Dehghan told The Associated Press that the French Embassy has had consular access only to Marchal. Iran doesn’t recognize dual nationality for its citizens. | |
| He said a decision on whether his clients will be allowed to get married is expected next week. They have been partners for 38 years in France, he added. | |
| “If permitted to marry, they will be able to meet and see each other inside the prison,” he said, explaining that Iranian laws prohibit extra-marital relations. | “If permitted to marry, they will be able to meet and see each other inside the prison,” he said, explaining that Iranian laws prohibit extra-marital relations. |
| In December, Adelkhah went on hunger strike to protest her and Marchal’s detention. | In December, Adelkhah went on hunger strike to protest her and Marchal’s detention. |
| “She remains on hunger strike, her legs are weak and she walks with difficulties,” the lawyer said and added, without elaborating, that “her kidneys have faced some problems.” | “She remains on hunger strike, her legs are weak and she walks with difficulties,” the lawyer said and added, without elaborating, that “her kidneys have faced some problems.” |
| Iran is holding several foreign and dual nationals, including five U.S.-Iranian nationals. A prisoner exchange in December saw Tehran Iran free a Chinese-American scholar from Princeton who had been held for three years on widely criticized espionage charges. | Iran is holding several foreign and dual nationals, including five U.S.-Iranian nationals. A prisoner exchange in December saw Tehran Iran free a Chinese-American scholar from Princeton who had been held for three years on widely criticized espionage charges. |
| It was seen as a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the U.S. However, it came prior to the U.S. killing of Iran’s top general in Iraq in January, which has dramatically escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran. | It was seen as a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the U.S. However, it came prior to the U.S. killing of Iran’s top general in Iraq in January, which has dramatically escalated tensions between Washington and Tehran. |
| Earlier, two Australians were freed in October while Australia freed an Iranian in what appeared to be a prisoner swap. | Earlier, two Australians were freed in October while Australia freed an Iranian in what appeared to be a prisoner swap. |
| ___ | ___ |
| This story has been corrected to show that of the French couple, only the woman holds dual Iranian-French nationality. | This story has been corrected to show that of the French couple, only the woman holds dual Iranian-French nationality. |
| Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |