In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, Louis Arnaud, a French banking consultant, shared the harrowing details of his two-year imprisonment in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison. Arnaud, who was arrested in September 2022 while traveling through Iran, was accused of national security violations and sentenced to five years in prison. His ordeal, marked by solitary confinement and psychological torment, sheds light on the severe human rights abuses perpetrated by the Iranian regime.
Arrest and Charges
Arnaud had embarked on a world tour, with Iran’s rich cultural heritage as one of his planned highlights. However, his journey took a tragic turn when he was detained, accused of participating in protests following the death of Mahsa Amini—a young Kurdish woman whose death in police custody sparked nationwide unrest. Despite a lack of evidence, Arnaud was charged with national security violations, a fate he shares with countless others swept up in the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown.
Life in Solitary Confinement
During much of his imprisonment, Arnaud was held in solitary confinement in Evin’s infamous Section 209, a detention center controlled by Iran’s secret services. “Everything is done so that you are deprived of your humanity,” Arnaud recalled. He described an 8-square-meter cell with no windows, 24-hour lighting, and constant surveillance. Prisoners are isolated from the outside world, with only the screams of fellow detainees piercing the oppressive silence.
Arnaud was allowed only three brief, heavily monitored phone calls during his six months in solitary confinement. These calls, instead of offering solace, were used as psychological tools to amplify his distress. He was forced to eat, sleep, and live on the floor under conditions designed to break the human spirit.
Torture and Forced Confessions
“The aim is to force you to confess to whatever they decide you should confess to,” Arnaud explained. Blindfolded and led to interrogations, detainees are subjected to relentless psychological and physical torture. Some, like fellow detainees Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, were coerced into signing false confessions.
Arnaud’s testimony also highlighted the plight of Iranian protesters and political prisoners. He described meeting detainees with visible injuries—broken ribs, limbs, and strangulation marks—evidence of the regime’s brutal tactics. Many of these individuals were sentenced to lengthy prison terms or faced execution.
Advocacy and Urgency
Now free, Arnaud is determined to advocate for those still imprisoned. He emphasized the urgent need to secure the release of the three remaining French hostages and other European detainees. Among them is Dr. Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian academic who has spent nearly nine years in detention and remains on death row.
Arnaud also called on European authorities to take a firmer stance against Iran’s use of hostage diplomacy. “There is human trafficking going on in this country,” he stated, urging Europe to address the systemic abuse that has persisted for decades.
A Plea for Change
Reflecting on the broader context, Arnaud expressed deep concern for the Iranian people, who face relentless oppression for expressing dissent. “I met protesters who just wanted a normal life,” he said, recounting the tragic story of Mohsen Shekari, a young man executed for participating in demonstrations.
While Arnaud’s own nightmare has ended, his message is clear: the international community must act decisively to address the ongoing human rights crisis in Iran. Only through sustained pressure can there be hope for those still suffering in the shadows of Evin Prison.
