WANA (Apr 23) – In continuation of the French government’s support for the actions of the Israeli regime, French security forces raided the home of French-Iranian journalist and media activist Shahin Hazami early yesterday morning, arresting him without any warning or explanation.

 

According to witnesses, at dawn, 10 to 12 masked security officers broke the lock on the door of this French-Iranian citizen’s house while all family members were asleep. After searching the home, they handcuffed Shahin Hazami in front of his wife and two young children.

 

Hazami, who has spent years preparing news, footage, and reports on the situation in Palestine and pro-Gaza demonstrations in France, has been under judicial investigation in France since last year and was awaiting his final court session.

 

Born in France to Iranian parents, Shahin Hazami had been invited several times to collaborate with French networks but rejected these offers, saying he was not willing to implement their media policies.

 

This is not France’s first time that it has arrested an Iranian for supporting Palestine. Mahdieh Esfandiari, a 35-year-old Iranian woman, has also been arrested on charges of “glorifying and promoting terrorism” due to her online activity in social media posts related to the war in Gaza.

 

She is a French translator and university lecturer, and has been living in the city of Lyon for the past eight years. But on Friday, February 28, 2025, she suddenly disappeared.

 

Despite repeated efforts by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Embassy in Paris, the French government has so far denied consular access to Mahdieh Esfandiari and has not even allowed her to contact her family by phone.