Iran has denounced Berlin’s ban of Hezbollah activity in its country while announcing the Lebanese group as a terrorist organization.
Iranian state media quoted its authorities as saying that banning the Iran-backed Hezbollah is aimed at appeasing the US and Israeli interests.
German authorities Thursday raided mosque associations reported being close to Hezbollah while banning all the group’s activity on its soil after designating it a terrorist organization. Both the United States and Israel had been urging Germany to take this step for long.
“It looks that certain European countries are adopting their stances without considering the realities in the West Asia region and by paying regard only to the objectives of the propaganda machine of the Zionist regime and the confused US administration,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said in a statement on Thursday.
While criticizing the German government for accusing Hezbollah “of promoting armed struggle with terrorist means,” Musavi said that Hezbollah was “an official and legitimate” member of the Lebanese government and Parliament and represents “political stability.”
What’s the Ban?
The ban means Hezbollah symbols can no longer be shown at gatherings or in the media or publications, and Hezbollah’s assets can be seized, according to the German Ministry of the Interior.
Since Hezbollah is a foreign organization, Germany cannot outrightly ban and dissolve it, the ministry said in a statement.
While praising the move, Israel urged other European Union countries to follow the German suit. Both the US and Israel had been lobbying for the move for so long that has come amid the most critical times.
More:
The EU distinguishes between the military and political wings of Hezbollah. While the 27-nation bloc brands its military wing as a terrorist group, it does not classify its political wing as a terrorist entity. The United Kingdom, too, had introduced legislation in February 2019, before it left the EU, that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Analysis
The move appears to be a symbolic development in the wake of years-long political instability in the Middle East.
The official statement issued by the Interior Ministry justified the move as Hezbollah does not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.
“Hezbollah openly calls for the violent elimination of the State of Israel and questions the right of the State of Israel to exist.”
The official decision that will ban all political canvassing for the Hezbollah in Germany, besides proscribing all financial transactions from Germany to the Lebanese party.
The decision that came amid local and international opposition was also praised by others who view Hezbollah had been seeking funding and recruitment from German soil.
However, the development will affect Germany’s relations with visibility perturbed Iran, the leading supporter of Hezbollah. In addition, the decision is likely to impact Germany’s relations with Lebanon as Hezbollah is part of the government since 1992.
