Overview
- The four-day hearing began Tuesday at the Paris criminal court, where Esfandiari faces charges including online praise and provocation of terrorism, racist insult, and criminal conspiracy, which she contests.
- On the opening day, media reports from the courtroom said she defended her October 7 remarks as “resistance” and declined to answer some civil parties’ questions after extensive questioning on her posts.
- Judicial documents describe her as holding a central role in administering the Telegram channel “Axe de la Résistance,” with co-defendants including essayist Alain Soral, who is under a compelled appearance order.
- Iran’s foreign minister previously said a swap had been negotiated pending judicial steps in both countries, while French diplomacy declined comment and Esfandiari’s lawyer called talk of an exchange premature.
- Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris remain confined to the French embassy in Tehran after conditional release in November 2025, and ongoing unrest in Iran introduces further uncertainty over any exchange.