Why it matters:
Since there is no clear accussation for Esfandiari, her case has emerged as a consular priority for Tehran, which is pressing France on political, legal, and security fronts, Since there is no clear accussation for her.
The big picture:
Mahdieh Esfandiari, 39, had been living in France for the past eight years and worked as a translator. Alongside her, another individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested on similar charges.
According to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation was launched in November 2024 and focused on several active accounts on platforms such as X and Instagram. Prosecutors deemed the content published on these platforms as incitement to terrorism and the dissemination of hate speech based on religious or ethnic grounds.
Esfandiari disappeared in early March 2025 without a trace. The institutional silence from the French side heightened concern in Tehran. Eventually, through diplomatic efforts, the Iranian government was able to confirm that she was in the custody of French police, although the specifics of her case remained vague and limited.
What she's saying:
Fatemeh Mohajerani: "The Iranian embassy has held four meetings with French officials, and 13 consular sessions have taken place."
She added that efforts are underway through three approaches, political, legal, and security, and expressed hope that the release of the Iranian woman will happen as soon as possible.
Go deeper:
165 Iranian Female Athletes Call for Release of Mahdieh Esfandiari
Neda Sajjadi - Hossein Vaez
