Iran orders closure of German language institute in Tehran

Judicial authorities in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday closed down two branches of German Language Institute (DSIT) in the city.

According to Mizan, a news outlet affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, the branches had been designated "illegal centers affiliated with the German government" which had "breached Iranian law, committed various illegal actions and extensive financial violations."

Eyewitnesses reported seeing security personnel cordoning off one branch in the Ekhtiareh district of northern Tehran, while images of a large police presence outside the language school were posted on social media.

The DSIT was founded in 1995 by the German Embassy in Tehran and describes itself on its website as "one of the leading institutions for the learning of the German language," offering courses of various levels for both young people and adults.

Germany summons Iranian ambassador 

Germany's Foreign Office condemned the closure of the institute which it said was "in no way justifiable" and summoned the Iranian ambassador.

"Linguistic exchange forms the foundation of mutual understanding," it said in a statement in which it demanded the immediate reopening of the institute.

"The institute is a popular and recognized meeting place where people put a lot of effort into learning languages under difficult circumstances. The employees of the institute carry out their work, which is intended to strengthen the connection between the people of Iran and Germany, with great engagement."

Why has the German language school in Tehran been closed?

Another media outlet, Nournews, considered close to Iran's state security apparatus, suggested that the closures were a response to the closure of the Hamburg Islamic Center (IZH) in Germany in July.

At the time, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had described the IZH as an "important Iranian propaganda center in Europe."

Iran had summoned the German ambassador in Tehran in protest at what it called a "hostile action" and a "clear example of Islamophobia."

Last week, the IZH lodged an appeal against the ban.

German-Iranian diplomatic relations have suffered in recent years with several German nationals, some of whom hold dual German and Iranian citizenship, arrested and imprisoned in Iran on suspicion of espionage.

In 2023, German-Iranian journalist and software engineer Jamshid Sharmahd was found guilty of the capital crime of "corruption" linked to terrorism charges and sentenced to death.

mf/lo (dpa, Reuters)