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Iranian Students Protest Outside French Embassy, Urge Release of Mahdia Esfandiari
Hundreds protest outside the French embassy in Tehran demanding the release of Iranian student Mahdia Esfandiari, jailed in France for a social media post supporting Palestine.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-10-22
Iranian Students Protest Outside French Embassy, Urge Release of Mahdia Esfandiari

Hundreds of Iranian students, artists, and cultural activists staged a protest outside the French embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, demanding the immediate release of Iranian graduate student Mahdia Esfandiari, who has been detained in France for over seven months.

Protesters gathered a day before Esfandiari’s scheduled trial, chanting slogans condemning her arrest and calling on French authorities to uphold human rights and freedom of expression.

Mahdia Esfandiari, a master’s student in linguistics at a university in Lyon, was arrested on March 1, 2025, just ten days before she was set to return to Iran. French authorities accused her of running a Telegram channel expressing support for the Palestinian cause, an allegation that has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and activists.

Since her arrest, Esfandiari has reportedly spent 234 days in solitary confinement at Fresnes Prison near Paris, one of France’s oldest detention facilities. Her family and supporters claim she has been denied fair trial rights and adequate legal assistance.

Protesters in Tehran held placards reading “Freedom is not a crime” and “Supporting Palestine is not terrorism.” Several speakers at the demonstration accused the French government of hypocrisy, saying it promotes free speech selectively.

The rally follows growing anger in Iran and among pro-Palestinian activists worldwide over what they describe as the “criminalization of solidarity” with Palestine in several Western countries.

Iranian media reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with France, calling Esfandiari’s detention “unjust and politically motivated.”

Human rights organizations have also urged France to reconsider the charges and ensure Esfandiari’s release, warning that her prolonged isolation violates international standards for the treatment of detainees.

As her trial begins, supporters say they will continue international campaigns and demonstrations until Mahdia Esfandiari regains her freedom.
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