Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 14, 2026
1 min readLast updated: April 14, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleIranian student Mahdieh Esfandiari returned to Iran on April 15 after serving nearly one year in France for glorifying terrorism, in a move linked to the release of two French detainees in Iran.
April 15 (Reuters) - Iranian student Mahdieh Esfandiari arrived in Iran after being released in France, Iranian state TV reported on Wednesday, after two French nationals facing security charges were allowed to leave Iran following three-and-a-half years in detention.
Esfandiari, who was convicted at the end of February for glorifying terrorism in anti-Israel social media posts, was released after serving almost a year in prison.
"I think it's clear for everyone that there is no freedom of speech, at least not in France where I was. The court's ruling was very unjust," Esfandiari told state television.
(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Nia Williams and Jacqueline Wong)
Mahdieh Esfandiari is an Iranian student who was detained in France and later released after being convicted for glorifying terrorism in social media posts.
She was convicted for glorifying terrorism based on her anti-Israel social media posts.
She served almost a year in prison in France.
She stated that there is no freedom of speech in France and considered the court's ruling very unjust.
After her release, Mahdieh Esfandiari arrived back in Iran as reported by Iranian state TV.
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