France Says Conditions of Citizens Held in Iran Unacceptable

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot arrives for a state dinner hosted in honor of the Belgian Royals at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 14 October 2024. EPA/TERESA SUAREZ
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot arrives for a state dinner hosted in honor of the Belgian Royals at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 14 October 2024. EPA/TERESA SUAREZ
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France Says Conditions of Citizens Held in Iran Unacceptable

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot arrives for a state dinner hosted in honor of the Belgian Royals at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 14 October 2024. EPA/TERESA SUAREZ
French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot arrives for a state dinner hosted in honor of the Belgian Royals at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 14 October 2024. EPA/TERESA SUAREZ

France's foreign ministry said on Thursday the conditions that three of its nationals were being held hostage in by Iran were unacceptable, and that Paris continued to work to secure their immediate release.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met the families of the three citizens on Thursday, deputy spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a statement, adding that they were being "held hostage."

In recent years, Iran's Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on charges related to espionage and security.

Rights groups have accused Iran of trying to extract concessions from other countries through such arrests. Iran, which does not recognize dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage.



Bangladesh Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over Deaths of Protesters

File photo: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at Japan's national press club in Tokyo on May 28, 2014.  Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP
File photo: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at Japan's national press club in Tokyo on May 28, 2014. Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP
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Bangladesh Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over Deaths of Protesters

File photo: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at Japan's national press club in Tokyo on May 28, 2014.  Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP
File photo: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at Japan's national press club in Tokyo on May 28, 2014. Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP

A special court in Bangladesh issued arrest warrants on Thursday for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, including her close aides, on charges of crimes against humanity during a student-led uprising in July and August that forced her to flee the country, a prosecutor said.
Prosecutor B.M. Sultan Mahmud said the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal issued the arrest warrants in response to two petitions submitted by the prosecution, reported The Associated Press.
He said the head of the tribunal, Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the orders in the presence of other judges.
Hasina fled the country to India on Aug. 5 after weeks of violent protests in which hundreds of people died. Prosecutors said in the petitions that Hasina, her close aides and security agencies were responsible for killing the protesters and others.