Iranian officials shut down a German language school in Tehran.
For about three decades, the German Language Institute (GLI) in Tehran has been a prominent feature. Unfortunately, Iranian authorities have decided to shut it down, citing alleged violations of Iranian laws. However, an Iranian online portal raises some intriguing questions about the real reasons behind this closure.
The Iranian authorities have sealed the building housing the GLI, located in Tehran's northern region. Reports and images circulating on social media depict a substantial law enforcement presence outside the language school.
The Iranian judiciary announced that two "unlawful" German institutions were being closed. They were accused of breaking Iranian laws, engaging in numerous illegal activities, and partaking in extensive financial misconduct.
Photographs released by Mizan Online show Iranian security forces removing the sign of the GLI Tehran, an establishment affiliated with the German embassy in Tehran. There are also allegations of violations by other entities linked to Germany. The investigations are still ongoing.
In response to this move, the Nurnews portal, which is close to the Iranian security council, viewed this as a reaction to the closure of the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH).
Summoning of the Iranian ambassador
"We strongly condemn the Iranian security authorities' actions against the GLI Tehran," stated a representative from the German Foreign Office. The institute is well-known and highly respected, serving as a "popular and recognized meeting place" where individuals dedicate a significant amount of personal effort under challenging conditions to language learning. The spokesperson also disclosed that the Iranian ambassador in Berlin was summoned. "We urge the new Iranian government to immediately allow the resumption of teaching," the spokesperson said.
Approximately a month ago, the German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, banned the IZH, labeling it as a "significant Iranian propaganda center in Europe." Across the nation, the police confiscated the IZH's assets and facilities and those of five affiliated organizations. The ministry also claimed that the center was acting as a direct representative of Iran's spiritual and political leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Protests ensued, leading to the Iranian ambassador being summoned. Notably, the IZH association filed a lawsuit against the ban initiated by the German Interior Ministry just last week.
The IZH, established by Iranian immigrants in 1953, had been under close surveillance by German authorities for several years. Following the October 7 attack by the radical Islamic Hamas, allied with Hezbollah, on Israel, calls for the closure of the IZH intensified.
In recent times, tensions between Tehran and Berlin have been a recurring theme in diplomatic circles. Some German citizens, a few of whom also possess Iranian passports, have been imprisoned in Iran. Critics charge Tehran with treating these individuals as political hostages. However, Iran denies these accusations and typically justifies the arrests on espionage charges. In early 2023, the German-Iranian Djamshid Sharmahd was sentenced to death on terrorism charges.
As per the GLI Tehran's website, the institute was established in 1995 by the German Embassy in Iran. It relies on its own earnings and is not part of the Goethe-Institut. At present, the GLI Tehran employs 85 teaching staff, as reported by the Foreign Office.
The German Foreign Office expressed concern over the closure of the GLI Tehran, stating it as a highly respected institution and an essential meeting place for language learners. The Commission, comprising German officials, also summoned the Iranian ambassador to Berlin, urging the new Iranian government to permit the resumption of teaching at the institute.
