By Ivan Kesic

Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian female academic residing in France, has become the latest target of repression by the French government due to her public support for Palestinians in Gaza and condemnation of Israeli genocidal crimes.

On Saturday, French authorities finally acknowledged that they were holding an Iranian national in detention, based on dubious charges regarding her online activities.

Esfandiari, 39, has been held in one of France’s most notorious prisons for a month and a half, during which the French police and judiciary denied her family contact for two weeks.

Furthermore, French authorities refused for an entire month to provide detailed information to the Iranian foreign ministry, which intervened at the family’s request.

Who is Mahdieh Esfandiari?

Mahdieh Esfandiari is an Iranian linguist and French language graduate who has lived in France for the past eight years. She resides in the city of Lyon, the third largest city in France.

Esfandiari graduated from Lumière University, where she works as a professor, translator, and interpreter. She is also a prominent pro-Palestinian activist with a significant online presence.

Esfandiari’s past activism includes participation in women’s rights and human rights campaigns, active engagement on social media with a focus on West Asian issues, and attendance at pro-Palestinian protest rallies in France.

Fellow activists familiar with her work say she published a series of posts condemning the Israeli genocide in Gaza, portraying her as a victim of France’s clampdown on pro-Palestinian advocacy.

Her case has drawn comparisons to that of Iranian music maestro Bashir Biazar, who accompanied his wife on an academic mission to France and was imprisoned for several weeks last year over pro-Palestinian lyrics.

French arrest and accusations against Esfandiari

Esfandiari was arrested by French police in Lyon on February 28, 2025, and has been held at Fresnes Prison in Val-de-Marne, south of Paris, since March 2.

Fresnes Prison, the second-largest city in the European country, is notorious for housing dangerous criminals and for its harsh and inhumane conditions.

It was also the last facility in France intended for the use of the guillotine.

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office charged the Iranian academic with “apologie du terrorisme” (public defense of terrorism), based on Telegram posts, which they claimed were supportive of the Hamas-led Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Israeli regime in October 2023.

Additional charges include “online provocation of terrorism, insults based on origin or religion, and refusal to provide access codes to her social media accounts” (X and Telegram).

She was placed in provisional detention following an investigation launched by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNLH) on November 7, 2024.

Her family lost contact with her in late February 2025, prompting them to alert Iranian authorities, who in turn contacted their French counterparts.

Initially, French authorities offered no public explanation, heightening diplomatic tensions. On April 12, 2025, they finally confirmed her detention, citing her online activity.

Due to the French authorities’ limited transparency, the specific content of Esfandiari’s Telegram posts remains undisclosed in public reports, making it difficult to assess the legitimacy of the charges against her.

What did Iran’s Foreign Ministry say?

On March 10, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei addressed local media inquiries regarding the disappearance of an Iranian citizen in France.

“Unfortunately, we have learned that one of our citizens residing in France has gone missing in recent days, and so far, we have not received any specific information from the relevant French authorities regarding her status,” Baghaei stated.

He added that the foreign ministry contacted the French Embassy in Tehran, and its consular section has been following up, hoping to obtain precise information as soon as possible to alleviate the family’s concerns.

Esfandiari’s family reached out to the Iranian ministry after receiving no news of her for 12 to 13 days—an unusual development, given that defendants have the legal right to communicate with family, lawyers, and embassies.

Baghaei later shared updated information during a press conference.

“Although our efforts have unfortunately not yielded results, we have at least learned that she is in the custody of the French police,” he stated.

“We do not know the reason for this, but we do know that this respected woman has been an activist in support of the people of Palestine and had apparently published content in solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza.”

In subsequent remarks on April 7, Baghaei expressed hope that the French government would provide consular access to Esfandiari as soon as possible, following several weeks of refusal, in accordance with international law, and clarify the grounds for her arrest.

What did Esfandiari’s family and lawyer say?

Mahdieh Esfandiari’s family has called the accusations baseless and retained Nabil Boudi, a lawyer known for defending migrants in France, to represent her in court.

On Monday, Boudi issued a statement regarding her shocking arrest.

“The firm was approached by the family of Mrs. Mahdieh Esfandiari Jaliseh, an Iranian translator who has lived in France for nearly ten years and has been in pre-trial detention since March 2 at Fresnes Prison, following her indictment,” he said.

At this stage, her family raised serious concerns about several troubling aspects of the case, including the sudden nature of her arrest, especially considering the significant time lapse, casting legitimate doubt on the urgency or necessity of such a severe measure.

As the case appears to fall under press freedoms, the family called for strict adherence to those principles and opposed the criminalization of expression.

“The firm will ensure with the utmost vigilance that the fundamental rights of Ms. Mahdieh Esfandiari Jaliseh are upheld, foremost among them the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the Constitution and France’s international obligations,” Boudi added.