Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that the French Institute for Research in Iran (IFRI) will be closed. Tehran condemned the cartoons as “offensive symbols of sovereignty and national values”.
“Charlie Hebdo” mocks politicians
On Wednesday, Tehran threatened retaliation after the magazine published cartoons of President Ali Khamenei. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran also summoned the French ambassador. “Charlie Hebdo” repeatedly mocks Iranian politicians. The magazine has therefore already been put on a sanctions list by the Islamic Republic.
Charlie Hebdo published several entries from its #MullahsGetOut cartoon contest on Wednesday. For example, one of the selected drawings shows Khamenei trying to save himself from drowning on a rope in a lake of blood.
Freedom of the press in France
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna referred to the legal framework of the publication on the LCI channel. “In France, unlike what is happening in Iran, there is freedom of the press.” Blasphemy does not exist in French law.
Recently, the tone between Tehran and the governments of European countries has tightened. The reason for this is the continued criticism of the violent behavior of the Iranian security forces during the protests. In addition to the former archenemies USA and Israel, the leadership recently also mentioned France. Many Iranian security officials and politicians have also been subject to EU sanctions since the protests broke out.
(SDA)