- Iran shuts down German language education facility in Tehran
In Iran, two German educational and cultural establishments have been closed down recently due to alleged illegal activities and financial misconduct, as stated by the Misan news agency. This statement was made on Tuesday. Pictures distributed by Misan depict security forces taking down a sign of the Tehran-based German Language Institute, an entity affiliated with the German embassy in Tehran. Initially, the identity of the second institution was not disclosed.
The Nurnews, a site close to the Iranian security council, proposed that this action was a reprisal for the closure of the Hamburg Islamic Center (IZH) in July. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ordered the IZH to close owing to its extremist leanings. The ministry further declared that the center functioned as a direct agent of Iran's spiritual and political head, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Subsequently, the German ambassador in Tehran was invited. Additionally, the IZH association filed a lawsuit against the German federal interior ministry's prohibition order about a week beforehand.
Germany-Iran Relations
Over the past few years, there have been persistent strains in diplomatic relations between Tehran and Berlin. Many German citizens, some of whom also hold Iranian passports, are currently imprisoned in Iran. Critics argue that Tehran is keeping foreign nationals as political prisoners.
Iran denies these allegations, usually defending the detentions by accusing the detainees of espionage. In early 2023, German-Iranian national Djamshid Sharmahd was sentenced to death based on terrorism charges.
According to its website, the German Language Institute Tehran (DSIT) was set up in 1995 by the German embassy in Iran.
The German Language Institute Tehran, operated by the German embassy in Iran and part of the 'The Commission' responsible for cultural and educational affairs, was one of the establishments closed down in Iran due to allegations of illegal activities and financial misconduct. In response to the closure of the Hamburg Islamic Center in July, which was accused of having extremist leanings and functioning as a direct agent of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian government, through 'The Commission', took action against German entities in Iran.
