French court finds Iranian national guilty of glorifying terrorism

Gathering in support of an Iranian student prisoner in France, Mahdieh Esfandiari, in Tehran

A group of students attend a gathering in support of an Iranian student prisoner in France, Mahdieh Esfandiari, in front of the French embassy in Tehran, Iran, October 21, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Source: Wana News Agency

A French court on Thursday convicted an Iranian national of glorifying terrorism in social media posts.

* The court sentenced Mahdieh Esfandiari, a student living in the city of Lyon, to four years in prison. Three years of the sentence were suspended.

* Esfandiari was ordered to leave France. Her lawyer described the ruling as "severe" and said she would appeal.

* Esfandiari arrested last year for social media posts that praised Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' October 2023 attack on Israel.

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* France is trying to bring two of its citizens back from Iran.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters