Following the arrest of Mahadiye Esfandiari, an Iranian girl who lives in France by police on charges of supporting the Gaza people, 165 Iranian women and male athletes wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for an end to the illegal and inuman declarations of Iranian women in France.
“We are deeply interested in this after the illegal arrest of Iranian citizen Madie Esfandiari by French authorities since February 28, 2025, which has kept her in solitary confinement, strict physical restraint and denial of access to medical services,” he said.
In modern times, when humanity reaches the quantum frontier of thought and technology, the letter added that freedom of expression should not be the victim of lobbying for people whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent children.
In this letter, it was stipulated that Esfandiari had spoken openly of the truth, but the silence imposed on her is a symbol of a deep wound to the body of freedom of expression. Restraining the voice of truth is not only an injustice against humans, but also a betrayal of the values that the United Nations and the international community claim to support.
To the UN chief, a female Iranian athlete wrote that France’s silence on the situation and its continued six months of detention equals an accomplice to the blatant deception of oppression and justification. History registers such accomplices with accuracy. The international community must be wary that Palestinian perceptions are valuable and realistic when it involves honest action and resistance to oppression and injustice, rather than limiting freedom of speech and expression.
On September 3, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the French government for blocking the release of Esfandiari, who is deliberately detained in France with baseless accusations.
Baghaei said France repeatedly rejected the proposed location for the release of Esfandiari, which was released on bail under different pretexts.
Esfandiari was detained in France in February 2025 along with several others. The Iranian Embassy in Paris has been in close contact with her and her legal representative, with the recent consular visit taking place on August 18th.
A French court recently rejected a request for conditional release, although her defense team has continued efforts to ensure her freedom.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office allegedly stated that Esfandiari has been charged with “the glory of terrorism” and crimes related to social media activities.
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