TEHRAN – Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy Chief for International Affairs of the Iranian Judiciary and Secretary General of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, has demanded that France release an Iranian citizen detained by French authorities for expressing support for Palestinians.

In a statement on his X account on Wednesday, Gharibabadi criticized the actions of the French police, describing the detention as a "shameful" example of France's human rights record. He condemned the arrest as an affront to the rights of individuals to advocate for the oppressed Palestinian people.

"Yesterday, I spoke with his wife and officials from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We are resolute in our commitment to protect our fellow citizens," Gharibabadi announced. He made it clear that the Iranian government is taking the matter seriously and is actively working to secure the detained individual's release.

"The immediate release of this Iranian national is imperative," he stressed, calling on French authorities to act swiftly and uphold international human rights standards.

This incident has further strained relations between Iran and France, with Iranian officials accusing France of hypocrisy and double standards in its approach to human rights. The Iranian government has pledged to continue its efforts to support and defend its citizens abroad, particularly in cases where they believe fundamental rights have been violated.