TEHRAN: A Franco-Iranian academic based at Paris’ prestigious Sciences Po university has been arrested in Iran and denied contact with consular staff, the French foreign ministry said Monday.
“France calls on the Iranian authorities to shed full light on Mrs (Fariba) Adelkhah’s situation and repeats its demands, particularly with regard to an immediate authorisation for consular access,” it said in a statement.
Foreign-based Iranian media reported Adelkhah, an anthropologist, was arrested on suspicion of espionage.
France has yet to be given “satisfactory information” on her status, the statement also said.
“The French authorities in this difficult context have taken steps with Iranian authorities to get information from them on her situation and the conditions of her arrest and asked for consular access,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement.
“No satisfactory response has been given to these requests. France calls on the Iranian authorities to bring to light Mrs Adelkhah’s situation and reiterates its requests, in particular the authorisation of consular access without delay,” she added.
