French teaching assistant Clotilde Reiss, 24, returned to France yesterday after 10 months detention in Iran on charges of espionage and attempting to overthrow the Islamic leadership.
Upon her arrival Reiss met with press and French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Elysée Palace. She thanked the French government for its support and said she was happy to be with her family again, though sad to consider the fate of two fellow prisoners, who were executed in January.
Reiss was arrested along with 100 others during the contested Iran elections last summer. She attended an anti-government rally, took photographs, and e-mailed them to a friend.
The Iranian court commuted her 10-year sentence to a $285,000 fine.
France denies reports that her release is part of an exchange deal between the Iranian and French governments.
Two weeks ago the French government refused to extradite to Washington an Iranian accused of intending to sell military technology to Iran.
Upon her arrival Reiss met with press and French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Elysée Palace. She thanked the French government for its support and said she was happy to be with her family again, though sad to consider the fate of two fellow prisoners, who were executed in January.
Reiss was arrested along with 100 others during the contested Iran elections last summer. She attended an anti-government rally, took photographs, and e-mailed them to a friend.
The Iranian court commuted her 10-year sentence to a $285,000 fine.
France denies reports that her release is part of an exchange deal between the Iranian and French governments.
Two weeks ago the French government refused to extradite to Washington an Iranian accused of intending to sell military technology to Iran.