An online petition calling for the release of French citizen Louis Arnaud, detained in Iran since September 2022, has collected more than 100,000 signatures in two weeks.
The petition, published on July 16, has amassed 100,165 signatures. The appeal read: "We launch this call from the heart to assist Louis Arnaud, our friend, brother, and son."
According to a statement from the Support Committee on Tuesday, Louis embarked on a journey of exploration in July, aiming to fulfill his dream of traversing the Silk Road by land and sea. However, his voyage dramatically turned in September 2022 when he was detained alongside other travelers he had encountered.
Arnaud's detention occurred less than two weeks after widespread protests erupted in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Tehran's morality police for violating strict dress code rules.
The Committee previously confirmed that Arnaud was traveling with other Europeans, and they were far from the protests that led to the arrests of thousands.
They were apprehended while on their way to celebrate one of their birthdays and transferred to Evin Prison in northern Tehran.
Arnaud "remains detained in Evin Prison without concrete charges," while his companions were released earlier.
The Committee appealed to the French government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify their efforts in securing Arnaud's release.
They also worried about the lasting psychological and physical effects of this prolonged detention on him.
- State hostages
Iran continues to hold several foreign nationals, many dual citizens, accusing them of security-related or espionage charges.
The home countries and families of the detainees consider them as "hostages" held by Iran to gain concessions from Western nations or to exchange them for Iranians detained abroad.
Iran has three other French detainees: Cecile Kohler, her partner Jacques, and an unnamed individual.
Iranian authorities released French nationals Benjamin Briere and Bernard Phelan in May for "humanitarian reasons."
Last February, Tehran released French Iranian researcher Fariba Adelkhah after she served a five-year sentence for allegedly endangering national security but was banned from leaving the country.
