Germany: Iran Must Recognize Right to Protest
Berlin has called on Tehran to recognize legitimate protests and respect the right of demonstrators to assemble. France’s foreign ministry has advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Iran. Turkey’s foreign minister expressed hope that calm will return to Iran.
Ulrike Demmer, spokesperson for the German Chancellor, said on Monday, November 18 (Aban 27): “The courageous protest of people against their poor economic and political conditions is legitimate and worthy of respect.”
Angela Merkel’s spokesperson said at a weekly press conference that the German government is following the situation in Iran with concern and it would be better if Tehran responds to ongoing protests by expressing willingness for dialogue: “We demand that the Iranian government respect the right to hold assemblies and the right to freedom of expression.”
Meanwhile, France’s foreign minister also announced that it is closely monitoring developments in Iran. The ministry’s spokesperson also called on the Islamic Republic to respect the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression for protesters.
In nationwide demonstrations in Iran that began Friday evening, Aban 25, in response to a threefold increase in gasoline prices, several people have been killed. Major roads have been blocked, banks and public buildings have been set on fire and vandalized. Iranian officials have confirmed the deaths of only three people in the ongoing demonstrations, but unofficial reports suggest more than 30 people have been killed in the protest gatherings.
Associated Press reports that Iranian television rarely broadcasts coverage of public gatherings in cities and towns, but in selected footage, it shows videos of masked individuals committing arson and vandalism.
The German government advised its citizens on Sunday, November 17, to be cautious when traveling to Iran and warned tourists to avoid attending gatherings and refrain from expressing political opinions to strangers.
The French government has also asked its citizens to cancel any personal or business travel to Iran. In a statement from France’s foreign ministry, it stated that travel to Iran is dangerous due to the risk of arbitrary detention by security and intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkey’s foreign minister, expressed hope in a conversation with the state-run Anatolia news agency that the ongoing demonstrations in Iran will end as soon as possible: “We hope that recent events will soon come to an end and calm will return to Iran.”
Source: DW
