Iran has dissolved a French institute in the country in response to the publication of cartoons by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that the French Institute for Research in Iran (IFRI) will be closed. Tehran condemned the cartoons as “insulting symbols of sovereignty and national values.”
On Wednesday, Tehran threatened consequences after the magazine published cartoons of President Ali Khamenei. The Foreign Ministry in Tehran also summoned the French ambassador. Again and again, “Charlie Hebdo” 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. One of the selected drawings, for example, shows Khamenei trying to save himself from drowning on a rope in a lake of blood.
France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna referred to the legal framework of the publication on the LCI broadcaster. “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 sharpened. The reason for this is ongoing criticism of the violent behavior of Iranian security forces during the protests. In addition to the former arch-enemies USA and Israel, the leadership recently also named France. Many Iranian security officials and politicians have also been subject to EU sanctions since the protests broke out.
