Iranian trial
August 17, 2009
A day after the release of a Frenchwoman from an Iranian prison on Sunday, the French government was continuing its demands for all espionage charges to be dropped against her, the woman's father told broadcaster France Info on Monday.
Reiss is one of more than 100 people in a mass trial in Iran on charges linked to post-election protests. She had been held in prison for six weeks after she attended demonstrations following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
She is also charged with espionage for allegedly filing a report to the French embassy.
France paid about $300,000 (213,000 euros) for Reiss to be released on bail, Reuters quoted Iranian news sources as saying. The 24-year-old teacher must stay in the French Embassy until a verdict is reached.
Earlier, France acknowledged it had paid bail for Reiss, but didn't name an amount.
Clotilde's father, Remi Reiss, told France Info radio on Monday that he had spoken with his daughter and that she "seems in good shape."
"This is happiness"
"This is what happiness is," he said. "She will be able to regain her freedom and the everyday life that she has missed for a month-and-a-half."
Remi Reiss described his daughter's release on bail as a "first step" and expressed hope that she will return to France in the weeks ahead.
On Sunday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy had telephoned with Reiss and confirmed that the 24-year-old was in good health. Sarkozy thanked the European Union and Syria for their support in mediating her release.
Iran has expanded a mass trial of opposition supporters. 25 new defendants are now among more than 100 people charged with plotting a "soft revolution" against the Islamic theocracy during the post-election protests.
The trial, now in its third session, has included a number of televised confessions and has drawn international condemnation from human rights groups that allege the confessions are coerced.
On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told state television that "the verdict might come in the next eight days. Perhaps a bit longer."
jen/Reuters/dpa/AP
Editor: Susan Houlton